Publications by authors named "Jan Vastmans"

Article Synopsis
  • This study is a multicenter retrospective analysis aimed at identifying treatment-related risk factors for nonunion in odontoid fractures among elderly patients, while also considering patient and injury-related factors.
  • Odontoid fractures, particularly Type II and III, are common in older adults and often lead to high rates of nonunion, with treatment options varying from conservative methods to extensive surgical procedures.
  • The results showed that 45% of patients had nonunion at six months, with higher odds related to age and lower odds for nonunion in patients receiving posterior surgical treatments; however, anterior screw fixation did not significantly improve outcomes compared to conservative treatment.
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Objective: Early decompression after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is recommended. Acute care is crucial, but optimal management is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to computed tomography (CT) in surgical decision making for acute cervical SCI.

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There is an ongoing controversy about the optimal timing for surgical decompression after acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). For this reason, we performed a retrospective study of patients who were operated on after traumatic cervical SCI at the Trauma Center Murnau, Germany, and who met inclusion as well as exclusion criteria (n = 70 patients). Follow-up data were collected prospectively according to the European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury (EMSCI) protocol over a period of 1 year.

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Article Synopsis
  • Charcot spinal arthropathy (CSA) is increasingly observed in patients with spinal cord injuries, highlighting the need for awareness of its symptoms, risk factors, and complications.
  • A study at BG Trauma Center in Germany reviewed four paraplegic women, showing a long gap (average 29.5 years) between their injuries and CSA diagnosis, underscoring the chronic nature of the condition.
  • The findings suggest that while conservative treatment exists, simple posterior fixation may not effectively manage CSA, indicating a need for further research to improve surgical recommendations.
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Osteomyelitis of the cervical spine may lead to profound bony destruction. The presented case developed multilevel osteomyelitic destruction of the cervical spine after decompression due to cervical myelopathy. He could be cured by a multiple-stage procedure: step one: debridement and removal of all anterior implants with vacuum-assisted closure combined with dorsal instrumentation from C0 to T3; step two: anterior reconstruction with expandable titanium cages and plate.

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