Information on Cervical Spine Fracture Treatment
The thoracic spine is composed of 12 vertebra. It is continuous with the cervical spine above and the cervical spine below. The thoracic spine is connected bilaterally to the ribs. These connections add great stability to the thoracic spine. The spinal cord passes through the bony spinal canal and nerves emerge at the interface between each set of vertebra. Fractures of the spine are commonly secondarily to trauma. Weakened bones and bones involved with cancer can also fracture. Aside from causing structural changes in the spine, the spinal cord or nerves roots may me damaged or destroyed with these fractures. Thoracic spine fractures may also be associated with injuries to the heart, lungs and great vessels of the chest.
A cervical (SER-vi-kl) fracture is also called a neck fracture or broken neck. It is a break in one or more of your seven cervical vertebrae (neck bones). Vertebrae are the bones that make up your spine. These bones support your head, and connect it to your shoulders and body. The cervical vertebrae enclose the spinal cord. The spinal cord is where the nerves from your brain go to the rest of the body. With a cervical fracture, the spinal cord may also be damaged.
Complete immobilization of the head and neck should be done as early as possible and before moving the patient. Immobilization should remain in place until movement of the head and neck is proven safe. In the presence of severe head trauma, cervical fracture must be presumed until ruled out. Immobilization is imperative to minimize or prevent further spinal cord injury. The only exceptions are when there is imminent danger from an external cause, such as becoming trapped in a burning building. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen are useful in decreasing swelling and pain. In the long term, physical therapy will be given to build strength in the muscles of the neck to increase stability and better protect the cervical spine.
The surgeon will x-ray the injured person’s spine to find out if the cervical spine is fractured. To treat the fractured spine, the surgeon first reduces it through traction. This process involves inserting tongs into the skull, attaching a pulley to the tongs, and attaching small weights to the other end of the pulley. The weights pull the head away from the shoulders just enough to enable the soft tissues around the spine to push the fractured bone back into place. After the fracture is reduced, the surgeon examines the spinal cord for damage. Because the spinal cord is soft tissue, it cannot be seen on an x-ray. Therefore, the surgeon injects a dye into the damaged area that coats the spinal cord and other soft tissues so they can be seen on an x-ray.
Screening radiography of the cervical spine is expensive, costing society as much as $140 million annually and usually has a low yield, with only 1%–5% of screening studies showing a fracture In addition, depending on the clinical situation, from 4% to 28% of such screening radiographic examinations may lead to further imaging, without a fracture being present Accordingly, considerable attention has been focused on developing optimal guidelines for cervical spine imaging. However, the same imaging strategy may not be appropriate for all patients. Patients with a very low probability of fracture may not need any imaging whereas those with a modest probability of injury may require radiography. In addition, several authors have suggested that patients with a high probability of fracture may benefit from screening computed tomography (CT). The key to determining who should undergo screening and to selecting the ideal imaging modality is the probability of fracture.
Read about Ask Questions, Share Answer. Also read about Natural Remedies, Natural Cure and Herbal Remedies and Home Remedies Natural Home Remedy