NEUROLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT AFTER CERVICAL TRACTION IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL SPINE INJURY

Main Article Content

Mumtaz Ali
Raza Aman
Khalid Khanzada
Muhammad Usman
Naeem ul Haq
Mohammad Ishaq

Abstract

Objective: To estimate frequency of neurological improvement after cervicaltraction in patients with cervical spine injury.

Methodology: This observational study was conducted at Department of Neurosurgery, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar - Pakistan from December2010 to November 2011. The medical record of all cases, in which cervicaltraction was applied for cervical spine injury, was checked from record room.Documentation was done according to proforma designed, indicating age,sex, neurological status before and after cervical traction and investigationswith findings on X-rays, CT and MRI. The data was analyzed from differentangles in SPSS software.

Results: A total of 30 patients were included in this study. There were 20 malesand 10 females. The age of the patients ranged from 13 to 80 years (mean=31.07±15.45). Majority of the patients (83.3%) were young, in the age rangeof 13- 40 years. Neurological improvement was noted in 14 (46.7%) patients.It was more in age group of 13-20 years (66.7%) and in those who presentedwith weakness of Frankle grade "B" and "C" (66.7% each). The improvementwas more in patients in whom anatomical alignment of spine was achieved.

Conclusion: Skeletal cervical traction is safe and effective means of early decompressionof spinal cord with neurological improvement. It is more effectivein young individuals and those presenting with Frankle grade B and C weakness.

 

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Ali M, Aman R, Khanzada K, Usman M, Haq N ul, Ishaq M. NEUROLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT AFTER CERVICAL TRACTION IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL SPINE INJURY. J Postgrad Med Inst [Internet]. 2014 Jan. 15 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];28(1). Available from: https://www.jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1462
Section
Original Article
Author Biography

Raza Aman

post-graduate resident, neurosurgery department.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 > >>