Vertebral Artery Injury during Routine Posterior Cervical Exposure: Case Reports and Review of Literature.

Study Design Case series. Objective We report the unusual occurrence of vertebral artery injury (VAI) during routine posterior exposure of the cervical spine. The importance of preoperative planning to identify the course of the bilateral vertebral arteries during routine posterior cervical spine surgery is emphasized.

Functional outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and fracture healing in 58 consecutive patients with geriatric odontoid fracture treated with cervical collar or posterior fusion.

Controversy exists as to the most effective management option for elderly patients with type II odontoid fractures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes associated with rigid cervical collar and posterior fusion surgery. Patients with ≥ 50% odontoid displacement were treated with posterior fusion surgery including C1-2 (PSF group, n = 25, average age = 80 years).

Functional outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and fracture healing in 26 consecutive geriatric odontoid fracture patients treated with posterior fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objective: To evaluate functional outcomes, fracture healing, complications, and mortality associated with posterior fusion surgery (PSF) for the management of geriatric type II odontoid fractures.

Summary Of Background Data: Outcomes of C1-2 fusion for geriatric odontoid fractures are not well defined.

Rigid cervical collar treatment for geriatric type II odontoid fractures.

Purpose: To evaluate fracture healing, functional outcomes, complications, and mortality associated with rigid cervical collars.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with <50% odontoid displacement were treated with a rigid cervical collar for 12 weeks (Average age = 84 years). Outcome scores were compared with a group of 40 age-matched control subjects (Average age 79.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with structural allograft and plates for the treatment of unstable posterior cervical spine injuries.

Object: The purpose of this study was to evaluate complications and radiographic and functional outcomes of isolated anterior stabilization surgery in which structural allograft and plates were used for posterior unstable subaxial cervical spine lateral mass, facet, and ligamentous injuries.

Methods: Between August 2003 and January 2008, 19 consecutive patients with unstable lateral mass, facet, and/or posterior ligamentous injuries of the subaxial cervical spine were treated by a single surgeon via an anterior approach. This was performed using structural allograft and plate fixation.