Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0030193 (pain)
 261,466 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We present our clinical experience and the results of surgical treatment of 13 patients with rheumatoid involvement of the cervical spine, namely severe atlanto-axial dislocation. A posterior fusion was carried out using a bicortical H-shaped iliac crest bone graft and steel wire. Postoperatively all patients were immobilized for 8 weeks in a Halo cast. There were no postoperative complications and all patients showed a stable fusion confirmed by radiography. Complete pain relief was obtained in 9 patients, partial in 4.
 ...
PMID:Stabilization of the unstable upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. 1120 52

A case of traumatic occlusion of the bilateral vertebral arteries associated with fracture of the cervical spine is reported. A 34-year-old man, having no previously noted medical problems, fell to the bottom of a bathtub with a depth of 80 cm, and hit the vertex fronto-parietal region of his head. He was transferred to our hospital 6 hours after his fall with a crush fracture of the cervical spine at the C6 level. On admission he was alert, but having pain in the vertex region, dysarthria, blurred vision and hemiparesis. Roentgenograms confirmed a crush fracture of the C6 vertebral body. Computed tomograms of the brain revealed a high density of basilar artery. Cervical traction with a Halo brace was then carried out. Twelve hours after the trauma, left oculomotor and right facial palsy appeared followed by bilateral oculomotor palsy and respiratory difficulty. At the 14th hour, he displayed bilateral Babinski's signs and tetraparesis. Tetraparesis became complete with right-side Horner's syndrome at 16 hours. Cerebral arteriograms performed 20 hours after the trauma showed a complete occlusion of the right vertebral artery and an incomplete occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the C6-7 intervertebral disk space. Conscious level deteriorated to a 200 level on the Japan coma scale 28 hours after the trauma and to a 300 level after 32 hours. Computed tomograms revealed a marked low density on the cerebellum and brain stem 38 hours after the accident. He expired on the 22nd day after the trauma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:[Traumatic occlusion of the bilateral vertebral arteries associated with fracture of the cervical spine--a case report]. 343 47

In a follow-up study of ten atlas and 85 axis fractures, 12% had residual symptoms in the form of local and radiating cervical pain. The residual symptoms were interpreted as a sign of a mild demyelinating process initiated by the trauma of the medulla. At least 22% of the accidents occurred while the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Therefore, a wide range of residual symptoms (progressive or nonprogressive) could be attributed in part to abuse of drugs and alcohol. A permanent measurable loss of motion occurred following injury to the atlas or axis, irrespective of the modality of treatment. Cervical fusion created the greatest loss of motion and collar immobilization the least. Skull traction and a halo-vest were intermediate in patients with loss of motion, and the degree of loss of range was essentially equal. Residual symptoms, including pain, were found in 20% of those treated with a collar, 40% of those treated with surgical methods, 5% of those treated with traction, and 5% of those treated with a Halo-vest. Residual symptoms did not correlate at all with degree of displacement of the original fracture.
 ...
PMID:Injuries of the atlas and axis. A follow-up study of 85 axis and 10 atlas fractures. 382 8

This paper described 27 patients who had seemingly stable compression cervical vertebral fractures. All were treated in cervicothoracic orthoses. None was initially treated in a Halo device or with surgery. Twenty patients were stable and healed without progressive displacement, angulation, or pain. One patient demonstrated an angular deformity, which spontaneously stabilized within six months with anterior bony ankylosis in a kyphotic position. Six patients demonstrated persistent progressive post-injury instability related to posterior ligament rupture. As muscle spasm diminished, the patients could be given a more reliable flexion-extension radiographic examination, unmasking the hidden posterior instability. Five of the six who demonstrated this instability were disabled because of pain. Two of the six patients were treated with a two-segment fusion. The other four have had fusion recommended and are currently being followed clinically. This paper emphasizes the need for better initial criteria of potential instability and close follow-up of patients with simple compression fractures of the cervical spine.
 ...
PMID:Unrecognized spinal instability associated with seemingly "simple" cervical compression fractures. 666 70

The authors reported two cases of pyogenic cervical discitis presenting tetraparesis. Case 1: A 66-year-old male patient entered the hospital because of tetraparesis. Two weeks before the hospitalization, he had become feverish and awakened with motor weakness in all extremities. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) study revealed a lesion filling the anterior epidural space from C4 to C6 levels and posterior displacement of the spinal cord. Findings suggesting discitis of C5/6 and osteomyelitis of C5 and C6 were also obtained on MRI. These findings suggested that the tetraparesis was caused by cord compression by the epidural abscess as the acute stage of pyogenic spinal infection. On the day following admission, surgical removal of the epidural abscess and of the infected bodies was performed. Spinal fusion through C4 to C7 was also carried out with iliac bone graft. Antibiotic administration and Halo-vest application were performed after the operation. The postoperative course was good and the tetraparesis had completely disappeared within 12 months after the operation. Case 2: A 60-year-old male patient entered the hospital because of tetraparesis. Since 6 weeks before the hospitalization, he had become feverish and suffered from pain in the neck. He had also awakened with motor weakness of all extremities. The tetraparesis was progressive. Plain X-ray films of the cervical spine showed destructive change of C5 and C6 and kyphotic displacement. An epidural abscess of the cervical spine at the level of C4 to C6, discitis of C5/6 and osteomyelitis of C5 and C6 were diagnosed on MRI findings. The disarranged kyphotic vertebral bodies and the epidural abscess caused posterior displacement of the spinal cord. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the abscess and the kyphotic change of the bodies had been induced by spinal infection in the subacute stage. On the 8th hospital day, surgical removal of the anterior portion of the infected bodies as well as fusion of the vertebral column from C4 to C7 was performed. Iliac bone was used for the fusion graft. Postoperative administration of antibiotics and Halo-vest application for external fixation were carried out. On the 7th postoperative day, symptoms caused by radiculopathy of the left C5 appeared, but gradually ameliorated. The patient was free from motor weakness in the 8th month after the surgical treatment. Surgical intervention is a useful treatment for pyogenic cervical discitis with symptoms due to compression of the spinal cord both in the acute and subacute stages.
 ...
PMID:[Two cases of pyogenic cervical discitis presenting tetraparesis]. 1092 Aug 25

To obviate dental inconveniences after Le Fort I halo distraction using an intraoral dental splint and connecting traction hook, the authors initiated direct skeletal traction using an traction wire at the parapyriformis buttress area. Halo distraction using this procedure was conducted for 11 cleft lip and palate patients (age range, 13-21 years; 6 females and 5 males). Distraction amount ranged from 11 to 15 mm. A satisfactory occlusion was obtained in all patients. All 11 patients complained of pain during the distraction period, but it was controlled by regular oral intake of the usual amount of analgesics. No other particular complications were encountered during the postoperative follow-up of 8 to 18 months. This form of direct skeletal traction proves effective for Le Fort I halo distraction.
 ...
PMID:Direct skeletal traction for Le Fort I halo distraction replacing an intraoral dental splint and connecting traction hook. 1538 69

The study was undertaken to improve an approach to treating patients with fractures of the odontoid of the C2 vertebra. Forty-nine patients were admitted to hospital for fractures of the odontoid process on January 14, 1989 to January 3, 2004. Physical, target X-ray study of the cervical spine, computed tomography of the C1-2 vertebrae, magnetic resonance imaging of the neck were performed on admission. Type II odontoid fractures were found in 17 patients, Type III in 32, of them 5 patients were observed to have an axial fracture concurrent with Jefferson's fracture. Forty-one of the 49 patients were operated on. Eight patients underwent rigid external fixation with reposition using a Halo apparatus. In all cases, a Halo apparatus was used before surgery to correct dislocation and to fix the upper cervical part of the vertebral column. According to the type of a fracture, its duration, reducibility of atlas-axial dislocation, the patient's status, the following procedures were performed: 1) posterior combined spondylodesis of the C1-C2 vertebrae (Halifax braces) alone and in combination with transpharyngeal resection of the odontoid process; 2) transdental spiral fixation; 3) occipital spondylodesis; 4) isolated Halo reposition and fixation. In all the cases, the results of treatment were assessed as good. The effect of reposition and stabilization was achieved. The prehospital pain syndrome and neurological deficit virtually entirely regressed. It was concluded that active surgical policy in injuries of the upper cervical spine may yield the optimum clinical and orthopedic results that a differential approach is required to choose a method for decompression and stabilization depending on the type of an upper cervical vertebral injury.
 ...
PMID:[Treatment of patients with fractures of the odontoid of the C2 vertebra]. 1591 67

Pure traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation (TAARD) is a possible cause of torticollis in children, but very rare in adults. Aim of this study is to report three very rare cases of TAARD in adults, focusing anatomy, management, and outcome. All 3 patients had a head-on automobile accident. Cases included a 26-year old woman, a 21-year old woman, and a 29-year-old man. The first case had a 45-day delay in diagnosis; the second and third cases were suspected to have odontoid lateral mass asymmetry on transoral radiographs. In all cases CT scan confirmed diagnosis and clarified the type of subluxation. All had conservative treatment with reduction and immobilization with Halo-Vest for case 1 and 2, and a rigid cervical collar for case 3. After follow-up of 10 years for case 1 and 2, and 3 years for case 3, all had no sign of C1-C2 complex mobility/instability. Patients 2 and 3 had complete and pain free cervical spine range of motion, while case 1 had stiffness and straightness of the cervical spine, headache, and nerve roots deficits, probably due to the complex cervical spine injury with sagittal imbalance on X-ray and C5-C6 spinal cord compression (pre-existing the trauma). TAARD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of post-traumatic neck pain and limitation, with or without evident torticollis, even in adults. CT scan is mandatory for a correct evaluation of C1-C2 complex. Conservative treatment with reduction followed by 50-60 days of rigid cervical immobilization (3 months in delayed diagnosis) is usually effective. Delay in diagnosis could be the cause of a poor outcome.
 ...
PMID:Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation in adults. 1884 10

We report the case of a 75-year-old lady who presented with a L2-3 non-union 18 months following a L2-3 and L3-4 posterior decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Halo of the L2 pedicle screws on imaging was consistent with a non-union at the L2-3 level. An anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) approach was originally considered. However, due to the high lumbar approach and patient habitus [body mass index (BMI) > 35], a decision was made to approach the L2-3 level using an oblique technique. This involved dissection anterior to the psoas muscle to access the L2-3 disc space. The psoas, kidney and retroperitoneum were retracted using a Synframe for the oblique trajectory. Removal of the prior trans-foraminal lumbar interbody fusion cage was performed via the oblique approach and insertion of a revised implant. The operation was completed successfully with no perioperative complications noted. Length of stay was 3 days, with the patient achieving rapid pain relief. In the present report, we report the first case using an oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) approach for revision of a prior posterior fusion non-union at the L2,3 level. The OLIF technique is feasible for revision of a non-union of upper lumbar levels, with satisfactory fusion achieved with acceptable feasibility.
...
PMID:Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Revision of Non-union Following Prior Posterior Surgery: A Case Report. 2679 88

The authors report an unusual case of an odontoid synchondrosis fracture causing chronic translational anterior atlanto-axial subluxation and present a discussion of the unique management of this case. Traumatic translational anterior atlanto-axial subluxation is a rare manifestation within pediatrics. Patients with preexisting abnormalities in ligamentous or bony structures may present with unusual symptomatology, which could result in delay of treatment. A 6-year-old male patient with autism who presented with acute respiratory arrest was noted to have an odontoid synchondrosis fracture and severe anterior translational atlanto-axial subluxation. Initial attempts at reduction with halo traction were tried for first-line treatment. However, because of concern regarding possible inadvertent worsening of the impingement, the presence of comorbid macrocephaly, and possible instability with only C1-2 fusion, a posterior C1 laminectomy was performed. Further release of the C1-2 complex and odontoid peg from extensive fibrous tissue allowed for complete reduction. Acute injuries of the C1-2 complex may not present as expected, and the presence of pain is not a reliable symptom. Halo traction is an appropriate initial treatment, but some patients may require surgical realignment and stabilization.
 ...
PMID:Management of an odontoid synchondrosis fracture causing chronic translational anterior atlanto-axial subluxation in a child with autism: case report. 3167 21


1