J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1997 Jan;26(1):82-86.

Neurological Changes after Closed Reduction of Cervical Spine Injury Using Skull Traction

• Im SB
• Shin WH
• Kim BT
• Choi SK
• Byun BJ

Abstract

Aretrospective study of 45 patients with cervical spine injury who underwent skull traction was conducted to evaluate the neurological changes after closed reduction. Motor function during the traction improved in 5 (11.1%), no change in 37(82.2%), and aggravated in 3(6.7%) of the patients. Three patients who deteriorated neurologically during the traction were found to have locked facets and herniated disc materials demonstrated by MR imaging study. Authors believe that MRI should be carried out as soon as possible in patients with cervical spine injury, even before traction is attempted, and any neurological changes should be checked and evaluated carefully during the traction. And if there is a herniated discs compressing the spinal cord at the injured level, anterior discectomy with interbody fusion is recommended before closed or open reduction.

Keyword

Cervical spine injury; Skull traction; Neurological deterioration; Herniated disc; MRI; Anterior discectomy

MeSH Terms

Diskectomy
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Displacement
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Skull*
Spinal Cord
Spine*
Traction*