Acute outcomes of cervical spine injuries in the elderly: atlantaxial vs subaxial injuries.

Background/objective: Recent studies have reported on the outcomes of spinal cord injuries in the elderly. Our aim was to identify acute survival differences between elderly patients with atlantoaxial injuries relative to subaxial injuries at our institution and to determine whether operative treatment is associated with improved survival rates in either population.

Study Design: Retrospective database review of all traumatic cervical spine injuries in patients at least 65 years of age at a single tertiary care center.

Acute mortality and complications of cervical spine injuries in the elderly at a single tertiary care center.

Study Design: Retrospective database review of all traumatic cervical spine injuries at a single tertiary care center.

Objective: To determine the acute survival of patients aged 65 and over with a variety of cervical spine injuries, regardless of operative or conservative treatment.

Summary Of Background Data: Elderly patients with cervical spine injuries have historically suffered from high mortality rates.

Cervical spine injuries in the elderly: acute postoperative mortality.

Study Design: This study retrospectively reviewed 12 years of consecutive patients with cervical spine injuries.

Objective: To establish reasonable expectations for short-term postoperative survival of the elderly patient with a cervical spine injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies have outlined dismal expectations for patients older than 65 years, with cervical spine injuries.

Impact of respiratory complications on length of stay and hospital costs in acute cervical spine injury.

Context: Respiratory complications are frequent in patients with acute cervical spinal injury (CSI); however, the importance of respiratory complications experienced during the initial hospitalization following injury is unknown.

Objective: To determine if respiratory complications experienced during the initial acute-care hospitalization in patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal injury (CSI) are more important determinants of the length of stay (LOS) and total hospital costs than level of injury.

Design: A retrospective analysis of an inception cohort for the 5-year period from 1993 to 1997.

Neurostimulation in the modulation of intractable paraplegic and traumatic neuroma pains.

Our experience in treating 10 patients with intractable pain with paraplegia employing percutaneous epidural or dorsal column stimulation is presented. Initial and long-term results in this group are contrasted with those of 9 patients with intractable post-amputation or post-traumatic neuroma pain. The successful results of neurostimulation treatment of peripheral nerve pain contasts with the disappointing results in the treatment of paraplegic pain.