BACKGROUND Several risk factors are associated to hip fractures. It seems that different hip fracture types have different etiologies. In this study, we evaluated the lifestyle-related risk factors for cervical and trochanteric hip fractures in older women over a 13-year follow-up period. METHODS The study design was a prospective, population-based study consisting of 1681 women (mean age 72 ...

BACKGROUND The optimal management of acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) associated with preexisting canal stenosis remains to be established. The objective of this study is to examine whether early surgical decompression (within 24 hours after admission) would result in greater improvement in motor function compared with delayed surgery (later than two weeks) in cervical SCI patients prese...

PURPOSE To review the impact of concomitant cervical spine injury on the management of facial fractures in a tertiary care institution via a retrospective chart review. PATIENTS AND METHODS Within the past 10 years, 1,750 consecutive patients presented to our institution with facial fractures. Thirty-two had concomitant cervical spine injury. Five were transferred or died before treatment. Th...

Trauma patients are at high risk of cervical and associated injuries. The standard protocol includes immobilization of the cervical spine in a polytrauma as it will help to prevent spinal injuries in the prehospital settings. Hard cervical collar (or alternatives) is routinely used until the cervical spine clearance is obtained . In patients with traumatic brain injury avoiding any kind of mane...

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, doctors commonly treat patients suffering major trauma, often with multiple injuries, which necessitates the demand for a rapid diagnostic assessment. Whole body computed tomography (CT pan scan) allows multisystem injury diagnosis. There is scarcity of literature evaluating extent orthopaedic injuries in CT scan polytrauma patients. The aim study was to evaluate lo...

BACKGROUND Prehospital spinal immobilization criteria are useful in identifying those at risk for spinal fractures, while reducing the number of patients unnecessarily immobilized. The use of immobilization criteria, without regard to mechanism of injury, has been shown to accomplish this task. AIMS The study's purpose is to examine efficacy of a prehospital spinal clearance guideline and tri...

Introduction & Background: Head first impacts can cause some devastating injuries to the cervical spine. In the worst cases cervical spine fracture and injury to the spinal cord can occur leaving those afflicted paralyzed for life. Transportation accidents and sporting events are two of the most common situations for head-first impacts and in many of these activities helmets are worn. Some exam...

Spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis frequently extend to all 3 columns, which can lead to displacement and deformity with severe instability. Cervical spine fractures occasionally cause severe kyphotic deformities, such as chin-on-chest deformities. In such cases, the patients typically exhibit a chronic progression of hyperkyphosis after the traumatic event. This article de...