Abstract
To clarify the injury pattern, initial spinal instability, degree of discoligamentous injuries in cervical lateral mass and facet joint fractures, we retrospectively analyzed radiological parameters and introduced a new classification for these injuries. Surgical treatment was performed with cervical pedicle screw fixation (CPS), and overall neurological and radiological outcome was evaluated with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Lateral mass fractures were divided into the following four subtypes: separation, comminution, split, and traumatic spondylolysis. The sagittal and frontal alignments were evaluated at both mainly injured and adjacent spinal segments on radiographs. The initial discoligamentous injuries were investigated on magnetic resonance imaging in terms of their frequencies, subtype of injuries, and involved spinal levels. Anterior translation of fractured vertebra was demonstrated in 77% of lateral mass fractures, while 24% of anterior translation was observed, even in cephalad-adjacent vertebrae. On magnetic resonance imaging, signal changes in anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) and intervertebral disc were demonstrated in 76% of caudal segments and 24% of cephalad segments adjacent to fractured vertebra of lateral mass fractures. The subtype analyses of lateral mass fractures demonstrated high rates of anterior translation in separation, split, and traumatic spondylolisthesis, as well as significant coronal malalignment in comminution and split types (p<0.05). Thirty-one patients underwent surgical treatments using a cervical pedicle screw fixation. The CPS provided the superior capability of deformity correction without pseudoarthrosis, as well as excellent neurological recovery. The average numbers of stabilized segments were minimized without serious complications. In separation, facet joint fracture, and fractures with mild lateral mass comminution, the single level posterior fixation can be considered. The significant unstable injuries of split and comminution type with coronal malalignment can be treated with exclusive two-level posterior stabilization with CPS. The initial evaluation of fracture subtypes helps to successfully minimize the stabilized spinal segment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abumi K, Ito H, Taneichi H (1994) Transpedicular screw fixations for traumatic lesions of the middle and lower cervical spine: Description of the techniques and preliminary report. J Spinal Disord 7:19–28
Abumi K, Kaneda K, Shono Y (1999) One-stage posterior decompression and reconstruction of the cervical spine by using pedicle screw fixation systems. J Neurosurg 90:19–26
Abumi K Shono Y, Kotani Y (2000) Complications of pedicle screw fixation in reconstructive surgery of the cervical spine. Spine 25:962–969
Allen B Jr, Ferguson RL, Lehmann TR (1982) A mechanistic classification of closed, indirect fractures and dislocations of the lower cervical spine. Spine 7:1–27
An HS, Coppes MA (1997) Posterior cervical fixation for fracture and degenerative disc disease. Clin Orthop 335:101–111
Bohlman HH (1979) Acute fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine: an analysis of three hundred hospitalized patients and review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am 61:1119–1142
Bucholz Rd, Cheung KC (1989) Halo vest versus spinal fusion for cervical injury: Evidence from an outcome study. J Neurosurg 70:884–892
Cooper PR, Cohen A, Rosiello A (1989) Posterior stabilization of cervical spine fractures and subluxations using plates and screws. Neurosurgery 23:300–306
Fehlings GM, Cooper PR, Errico TJ (1994) Posterior plates in the management of cervical instability: long-term results in 44 patients. J Neurosurg 81:341–349
Frankel HL, Hancock DO, Hyslop G (1969) The value of postural reduction in the initial management of closed injuries of the spine with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Paraplegia 7:179–192
Halliday AL, Henderson BR, Hart BL, and Benzel EC (1997) The management of unilateral lateral mass/facet fractures of the subaxial cervical spine. The use of magnetic resonance imaging to predict instability. Spine 22:2614–2621
Harris JH, Mirvis SE (1996) Radiology of acute cervical spine trauma, 3rd edn. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 320–339
Heller JG, Silcox DH, Sutterlin CE (1995) Complications of posterior cervical plating. Spine 20:2442–2448
Jeanneret B, Gebhard JS, Magerl F (1994) Transpedicular screw fixation of articular mass fracture-separation: results of an anatomical study and operative technique. J Spinal Disord 7:222–229
Jones EL, Heller JG, Silcox DH, Hutton WC (1997) Cervical pedicle screws versus lateral mass screws: Anatomic feasibility and biomechanical comparison. Spine 22:977–982
Judet R, Roy-Cammile R, Zerah JC (1970) Fracture du rachis cervical, fracture séparation du massif articulaire. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 56:155–164
Kotani Y, Cunnigham BW, Abumi K, McAfee PC (1994) Biomechanical analysis of cervical stabilization systems: An assessment of transpedicular screw fixation in the cervical spine. Spine 19:2529–2539
Levine AM, Mazel C, Roy-Camille R (1992) Management of fracture separations of the articular mass using posterior cervical plating. Spine 17:S447–454
Schultz KD, McLaughlin MR, Haid RW (2000) Single-stage anterior-posterior decompression and stabilization for complex cervical spine disorders. J Neurosurg Spine (2)93:214–221
Shapiro S, Snyder W, Kaufman K (1999) Outcome of 51 cases of unilateral locked cervical facets: interspinous braided cable for lateral mass plate fusion compared with interspinous wire and facet wiring with iliac crest. J Neurosurg Spine (1)91:19–24
Sim E (1995) Vertical facet splitting: a special variant of rotatory dislocations of the cervical spine. J Neurosurg 82:239–243
Smith GR, Beckly DE, Abel MS (1976) Articular mass fracture: A neglected cause of post-traumatic neck pain? Clin Radiol 27:335–340
Whitley JE, Forsyth HF (1960) The classification of cervical spine injuries. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 83:633–644
Woodring JH, Lee C (1993) Limitations of cervical radiography in the evaluation of acute cervical trauma. J Trauma 34:32–39
Yetkin Z, Osborn AG, Giles D (1985) Uncovertebral and facet joint dislocations in cervical articular pillar fractures: CT evaluation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 6:633–637
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge Masanori Fujiya, M.D., Michinori Saita, M.D., Yasuhiro Shono, M.D., and Takahiro Iida, M.D., for their cooperative work in correction of patient data
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kotani, Y., Abumi, K., Ito, M. et al. Cervical spine injuries associated with lateral mass and facet joint fractures: New classification and surgical treatment with pedicle screw fixation. Eur Spine J 14, 69–77 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-004-0793-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-004-0793-2