Surgery in cervical spine injuries consist of following procedurtes either alone or in combination.
- Decompression
- Osteosynthesis of a fracture and arthrodesis of vertebral motion segments.
The choice of procedure is dependent on the nature of injury and the profile of the patient.
Decompression
Decompression of neural elements in upper cervical spine fractures is rarely necessary. Decompression should be performed only if indirect fracture reduction maneuvers fail and if compression of neural elements from bony elements remains.
The approach to dempression can be anterior or posterior depending upon the offending structure.
Osteosynthesis
Repair of the fracture fragments using internal fixation is indicated in very few cases in upper cervical spine. These injuries are type II odontoid fractures and type II traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis.
Arthrodesis
Arthrodesis is fusion of the vertebrae and along with instrumentation, it is most common surgery employed in cervical spine injuries.
The most common upper cervical fusion procedure involves an atlantoaxial fusion followed by an occipitocervical fusion. Very rarely is a C1–3 fusion indicated.
may25th 2010 i was given surgery neck fusion c1 c2 when i woke i had a halo vest on… i think the surgery was a success but 4 weeks on after having infected pins and put on anti biotics i amworried tho as i am starting to feel the same wee niggly pain i had in the neck before op………. is this ok? normal? i had part of my hip bone grafted and a full fusion in the neck …. the halo vest was too warm so i took the fur stuff out i hope this does not effect the vest position? but weather too warm and close to passing out other wise…i am from northern ireland…. how long will i have halo on for and when it comes off what way will i be> is there an anwer to this…i was also told i had arthritis is this part of my arthritis and my ulceritive colitis ( bowl disease)
thank you
andi ( female lol)
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@andi ferguson,
The immobilization can be needed up to 12 weeks depending on the surgery done and implant used.
you should have a chat with your treating doctor. He/she would be in a better position to answer the questions you have raised as he/she would be having more information about your case.
I hope that helps.
In July of 2009,I was given spinal fusion to repair the two vertebrae c5 and c6,which had collapsed on my spinal cord,compressing it and causing swelling,at that time i was completely immobile,but,after the surgery my muscles were very tight,and my motor skills were slowed.It’s been a full year and i notice that i suffer from alot of pain in my shoulders and my arms,my legs too are still weak,but the one thing that worries me most in the rise in my body temperature and passing out,this happens quite often. I’ve spoken to my Doctor about this but no one seems to have the answers.
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
@denise,
Passing out!
That is kind of serious. What have your doctors said so far.?
I’ve mentioned it to my doctor,yet he seems to have no answer’s for me. So I have been researching as much info about my injury as possible,and I’ve discovered that it can be a result of what I had been through?
Dr Arun Pal Singh Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@denise,
OK. Would you elaborate on your symptoms?