WANG Qing,WANG Song,ZHONG Dejun.Option of anterior or posterior approach for unstable Hangman fracture[J].Chinese Journal of Spine and Spinal Cord,2012,(6):526-530.
Option of anterior or posterior approach for unstable Hangman fracture
Received:January 06, 2012  Revised:February 17, 2012
English Keywords:Hangman fracture  Instability  Disc-ligamentous  Complex
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Author NameAffiliation
WANG Qing Spinal surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, 646000, Luzhou 
WANG Song 泸州医学院附属医院脊柱外科 646000 泸州市 
ZHONG Dejun 泸州医学院附属医院脊柱外科 646000 泸州市 
康建平  
王高举  
修 鹏  
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English Abstract:
  【Abstract】 Objectives: To investigate the risk factors and clinical outcome of anterior or posterior approaches for unstable hangman fracture. Methods: 65 patients with hangman fracture from May 2004 to May 2011 in our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative and intraoperative skull traction was applied and C-arm fluroscopy was used to evaluate the condition of C2-C3 disc and paravertebral ligaments. The fracture morphology of the involved cervical vertebrae was evaluated by X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. Patients with the following conditions underwent anterior approach: C2-C3 disc space increase, comminuted fracture of pars interarticularis of C2, narrowed C2 pedicle, high notch of vertebral arteries of C2, C3 body fracture and C3 pedicle deformity. Patients without C2-C3 disc space increase or irreducible interlocking of posterior facets of C2-C3, or pedicle fracture of C3 underwent posterior approach. The clinical outcomes and rediograph results were reviewed. Results: Except for C2 pars fracture combined with C2/3 instability, severe injury and deformity included: completely rupture of C2-C3 intervertebral discs and ligamentous structure in 9 cases, narrowed C2 pedicle in 1 case, high notch of vertebral arteries of C2 in 2 cases, comminuted fracture of pars interarticularis of C2 in 3 cases, C3 body fracture in 3 cases, C3 pedicle fracture in 3 cases, C3 pedicle narrowing in 2 cases, and C3 pedicle sclerosis in 2 cases. Fifteen patients underwent anterior surgery, which included intervertebral disc space increase in 3 cases, fracture of C2 pars interarticularis in 2 cases, C3 body fracture and C3 pedicle narrowing in 1 case, C3 body fracture and reduced interlocking of posterior facets of C2-C3 in 1 case, C2 high notch of vertebral arteries in 1 case. Seven other cases without C2-C3 disc space increase also underwent anterior surgery, which included narrowing of C2 pedicle in 1 case, fracture of C3 body and reduced interlocking of posterior facets in 1 case, uncertain injuries of C2-C3 intervertebral discs and ligamentous structure in 1 case, C3 pedicle sclerosis in 2 cases, C2 high notch of vertebral arteries and C3 pedicle narrowing in 1 case, comminuted fracture of C2 pars interarticularis and irreducible facets interlocking in 1 case. Fifty patients received posterior surgery: no disc space increase in 44 cases, disc increase in 1 case, failure of reduction of C2-C3 in 2 cases, fracture of C3 pedicle in 3 cases. Anterior and posterior approach was noted 7 and 8 complications respectively. Conclusions: Unstable Hangman fracture complicated with C2/3 dislocation, injury to disc-ligament complex, complicated fracture and deformity can be used to guide the surgical approach.
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