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The management in the C2-C3 disc herniations: a clinical study
1Istanbul Educational and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey. kadirkotil@gmail.com
Turkish Neurosurgery
|February 5, 2011
Summary
Cervical disc herniation at the C2-C3 level is rare, often presenting as large, central herniations causing severe myelopathy. Early diagnosis and anterior decompression lead to excellent outcomes for this uncommon condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Neurology
Background:
- Cervical disc herniation at the C2-C3 level is an infrequent condition.
- This study reports on the management and long-term follow-up of 5 cases with C2-C3 disc herniation.
Observation:
- Retrospective analysis of 1100 cervical disc herniation surgeries identified 5 cases of C2-C3 herniation (0.45% incidence).
- Patients had a mean age of 63 years, with upper extremity paresis as the primary neurological symptom.
- MRI revealed central, large, hard disc herniations in 4 cases, with cord signal changes in 4 cases.
Findings:
- Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion via a retropharyngeal approach was the preferred surgical method.
- Successful anterior decompression was achieved in all 5 patients, with successful fusion in 4.
- One patient died from an unrelated cause early in the follow-up period.
Implications:
- C2-C3 disc herniations, though rare, can cause severe myelopathy and tend to be central and large.
- Prompt diagnosis and effective anterior decompression are crucial for achieving excellent outcomes in managing C2-C3 disc herniations.
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