Recovery of nerve root function after complete quadriplegia from cervical spine fractures

Thirty-five patients with complete myelopathies secondary to cervical spine fractures from C-4 to C-7 underwent spinal decompressions and fusions between 1975 and 1981. Twenty-five of these patients underwent simultaneous nerve root decompressions, 23 with an accompanying anterior decompression and fusion and 2 with an accompanying posterior fusion. Substantial recovery of nerve root function occurred in 15 of these patients. A posterior reduction and fusion without nerve root decompression was performed in each of the remaining 10 patients. None of these patients demonstrated a significant improvement neurologically. Operation for nerve root decompression is indicated in selected victims of spinal cord injury.