Clinical, Radiological and
Evolutionary Aspects of Higher
Grade of Injury of Subaxial
Spine
Abstract
Introduction: Higher grade of injury of the subaxial spine is any
osteo-disco-ligamentary injury clinically classified as ASIA A and B,
very often involving the functional and vital prognosis of the patient.
In African literature, few works have attempted to focus on this problem.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognosis of patients
with high grade of cervical spine trauma.
Patients and methods: Over a 10-year period from 2009 to 2019,
we retrospectively studied 48 records of patients followed in the neurosurgery
department of the Fann University Hospital with higher
grade of injury to the subaxial spine.
Results: Higher grade forms of subaxial spine injuries were frequent
and represented 32% of subaxial spine injuries. The average age
was 35 years with extremes of 16 to 60 years. We found predominance
of males, with a sex ratio of 15, and falls were common cause.
All patients presented a severe neurological, i.e. 81% classified as
ASIA A. Associated injuries such as head trauma were observed in
6.25%. Surgical treatment was performed in 44%, by anterior approach
in the majority. Mortality was high, at 79%. Only one patient
had a complete recovery among the 10 survivorsafter 12 months of
follow-up.
Conclusion: The improvement of the technical platform in the
pre-hospital and hospital management of higher grade of injury of
the subaxial spine and the creation of secondary neurosurgical care
centers can improve the functional and vital prognosis. However,
prevention remains the basis and constitutes the best treatment,
while at the same time raising the awareness of the population

ORCID ID

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6238-2652

Reviewer Keywords