Linked Life Data

11805617

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11805617

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
24 Suppl
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-1-24
pubmed:abstractText
There are approximately 50,000 fractures to the bony spinal column each year in the United States. The vast majority of unstable spinal injuries are recognized early and managed appropriately. Rarely, the initial treatment may have been inadequate, or in less obvious injuries, less aggressive immobilization techniques may have been chosen. This along with continued exposure to physiologic stresses may lead to a gradual post-traumatic deformity that may further impede the functional as well as emotional status of these often already compromised patients. The management of post-traumatic deformity can be extremely challenging. A post-traumatic kyphotic deformity may occur in the cervical, thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar spine, and once appropriate imaging studies are obtained, careful surgical considerations must be undertaken. Surgical intervention is considered if the kyphotic deformity is progressive over time or there is new onset or progression of a neurologic deficit. Surgical procedures include either a posterior or anterior only approach or any variation of a combined anterior or posterior procedure. In most cases a posterior only fusion is often insufficient for optimal correction and stabilization. Although the majority of patients developing a post-traumatic deformity usually occur after spinal column trauma initially treated nonoperatively, several miscellaneous causes of post-traumatic deformity may occur after surgery. These include nonunion, implant failure, Charcot spine, and technical error. The overall outcome after the surgical management of post-traumatic deformity has been satisfactory with better outcomes in the patients treated earlier as opposed to later. Operative complications include the increased risk of neurologic injury because of the draping of the neural elements over the anterior vertebral elements, any pre-existing spinal cord injury, and possible scarring with cord tethering. Trauma to the spinal cord and column is a devastating injury that may be fraught with many complications including post-traumatic deformity. Certainly, the best treatment is prevention with close follow-up and early intervention when needed. Once present, the treatment of post-traumatic deformity follows basic biomechanical principles consisting of re-establishing the integrity of the compromised spinal columns so that spinal stability can be restored.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0362-2436
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
26
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
S111-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-7-9
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Post-traumatic spinal deformity.
pubmed:affiliation
Orthopaedic Department, Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review