title: [The retrospective analysis of surgical treatment for traumatic instability of sub-axial cervical spine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and analyze a therapeutic principle and strategy to treat the traumatic instability of sub-axial cervical spine as well as the prognosis assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to the Allen-Fergurson's classification, 83 patients who suffered from the traumatic instability of sub-axial cervical spine were performed operations depending on the patients's general health, the local pathological anatomy and neurological function, including both the decompression and reconstruction maneuvers through anterior, posterior or combined approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average follow-up was 3 years and 9 months. The distraction-flexion and compression-flexion were the most frequent injury subtypes. There were 46, 28 and 9 operations through anterior, posterior or combined approach respectively. No operation through anterior-posterior-anterior approach occurred. The average scores of JOA, VAS and ASIA motor index improved from 11.2, 7.8 and 53.5 before operation, to 15.3, 2.6 and 67.8 at the final follow-up, respectively. After operation, there were different extent improvements of average radiologic parameter. Fusion was achieved in all patients and 12 complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to both the patients's general health and the local pathological anatomy, individual therapeutic designing should be determined to treat the traumatic instability of sub-axial cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rui Jin Hospital, School of Medicine, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China. caopeng8@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yao-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xing-Kai
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications