Non contiguous dual level spinal injuries - A tertiary care centre institutional experience

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Spine Surgery
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Non-contiguous dual level spine injuries (NDSI) are associated with high morbidity in high-energy trauma.
• Limited literature and guidelines exist for managing NDSI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographics, clinical characteristics, management, outcomes, and prognosis of NDSI.
• To understand patient profiles and injury patterns in NDSI.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 38 NDSI cases from a tertiary care trauma center (2015-2024).
• Statistical analysis using SPSS version 23.
• Evaluation of injury patterns, associated injuries, and neurological status (ASIA scores).

Main Results:

• NDSI accounted for 3.01% of spine injuries; 73.7% were male, mean age 37.86 years.
• Common causes included falls from height (57.9%) and road traffic accidents (42%).
• Cervicothoracic (39.5%) and thoracolumbar (34.2%) patterns were most frequent; 4 patients showed neurological improvement post-operatively.

Conclusions:

• NDSI requires careful management, prioritizing fixation of unstable segments based on patient neurology.
• Staged procedures may be necessary for complex cases.
• Early fixation and mobilization benefit patients with preserved neurological function.