Article

Traumatic spinal cord injuries on cervical canal stenosis represent a
steadily increasing pathology,
of which clinical and functional outcomes remain
largely unknown. We present the results of a prospective
study of 20 patients followed for one year who had presented with traumatic
spinal cord injury involving initially acute neurological symptoms and cervical
canal stenosis defined in the imaging by a Torg ratio<0.8 and a medullary canal
ratio>0.65, without vertebral fracture. RESULTS: Traumatic spinal cord injuries
on cervical canal stenosis are caused mainly by falls in the elderly population
and by unsafe behaviour among younger subjects. Most of the patients present with
initially incomplete tetraplegia, and two thirds have centromedullary syndrome.
Association of complete tetraplegia with advanced age would seem to be a
predictive factor of death in the early post-traumatic period. For incomplete
tetraplegics, the main phase of neurological and functional recovery is observed
over the first six months. Radiological data and timing of surgery do not appear
to affect the prognosis. CONCLUSION: This study underlines the need for
individualized specialized care of patients with spinal cord injuries on cervical
canal stenosis, particularly according to their demographic and lesional
characteristics.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS