Comprehensive treatment procedure in cervical spine and spinal cord injuries

This article presents critical issues in the surgical treatment of injuries to the cervical spine and spinal cord, based on studies of 74 patients treated at the Marian Weiss Rehabilitation Center in Konstancin. The patients were given a comprehensive treatment program, including surgical treatment with the anterior approach to the cervical spine and simultaneous interior fusion. Solu-Medrol was administered during the acute phase. The Frankel scale was used to evaluate outcome. The results of preoperative and postoperative examinations indicate that the proposed treatment procedures, involving the coordinated work of a team of specialists, reduce the incidence of complete tetraplegia and leave more patients with only minor symptoms. Simultaneous interior fusion reduces complications to a minimum.