Volume: 2
Year: 2025, Page: 1-9,
Received: April 23, 2025 Accepted: April 24, 2025 Published: April 28, 2025
Traumatic cervical spine injuries (CSIs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Management options differ depending on injury stability and neurological status. This study aimed to compare the results of surgical and conservative treatments for patients with CSIs. A retrospective analysis of 55 patients with CSIs (C1–C7) was performed. Patients were assessed clinically, neurologically (Frankel grading), and radiologically. Spinal stability and neurological compromise guided management decisions. Conservative treatment involved traction and bracing, while surgical treatment involved anterior/posterior decompression and fusion. Thirty four out of the 55 patients underwent surgery and 21 were treated conservatively. Neurological recovery was observed in 56% of the surgically treated patients and 71% of the conservatively treated patients. Mortality rate was higher in surgical patients (17.5%) than that in conservatively managed patients (14%). Excellent results were reported in 42% of the patients, more commonly in surgical patients (47.5%) than in conservative patients (38%). Early surgery (<72 hrs) showed no improvement and high death rates, whereas delayed surgery (>7 days) yielded better results. This study demonstrated that conservative management yielded similar or improved neurological outcomes and reduced mortality in patients with stable injuries. Surgery is still required for unstable injuries, but timing is essential to maximize prognosis.
Keywords: Trauma; Cervical spine injury; Surgery; Conservative; Outcomes
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© 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by Ascentia Publishers
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