Circumferential fusion for the management of acute cervical spine trauma

Combined, single-stage anterior and posterior approaches for acute surgical management of cervical spine injury allows for early restoration of anatomic alignment and decompression. Six patients underwent single-stage anterior decompression and posterior instrumentation and fusion at Vanderbilt University Medical Center between 1984-1989. There was no late deformity. Five patients had incomplete neurologic deficits, and each improved a minimum of one Frankel classification. One patient had complete neurologic deficit at the C5 level. The procedure is lengthy, with an average time under anesthesia of 7.7 hs. Since this procedure allows for immediate mobilization, it should be considered for the management of cervical spine fractures with both anterior and posterior column instability.