Turkish Neurosurgery 2021 , Vol 31 , Num 4
Surgical Outcomes of Subaxial Cervical Fractures in Patients with Ankylosing Spinal Disorder
Ali Ihsan OKTEN1,Ali ARSLAN1,Semih Kivanc OLGUNER1,Vedat ACIK1,Ismail ISTEMEN1,Baris ARSLAN2,Yurdal GEZERCAN1
1Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey
2Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Adana, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.31174-20.2 AIM: To evaluate the patient groups with ankylosing spinal disorder (ASD) in terms of patients? characteristics, applied surgical approaches, and the outcomes.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Between 2008-2019, 50 ASD patients (35?80 years) were operated on subaxial cervical fracture. The mean follow-up time was 48 months. According to the surgical approach, the patients were divided into three groups: patients who only underwent anterior fusion [AF], patients who only underwent posterior fusion [PF], and patients who underwent anteroposterior fusion [APF]. In this retrospective study, we examined the patients? files and outpatient checks to evaluate the history, operations, neurological results, and complications in cases.

RESULTS: After undergoing respective surgical interventions, 1 of the 7 patients in the AF group (14%), 2 of the 18 patients in the PF group (18%), and 3 of the 25 patients in the APF group (12%) died. The postoperative American Spinal Injury Association scores were statistically better in all groups than in the preoperative scores. Among the surgical interventions, improvement in the APF group was significantly better than in other groups.

CONCLUSION: Although there is a higher amount of surgery related complications in the APF group, the biomechanical and clinical results are better than the other two surgical interventions. Keywords : Ankylosing spinal disorder, Anterior fusion, Anteroposterior fusion, Cervical spine, Posterior fusion, Subaxial cervical fractures, Spinal Trauma

Corresponding author : Ali ARSLAN, aliarslan26062006@hotmail.com