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Isolated Cervical Spine Fractures in the Elderly: A Deadly Injury

2008; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 64; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/ta.0b013e3181627625

1529-8809

Joseph F. Golob, Jeffrey A. Claridge, Charles J. Yowler, John J. Como, Joel R. Peerless,

Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background: Traumatic injury in the elderly is an increasing problem and studies have shown that elderly patients (≥65 years old) with cervical spine fractures and spinal cord injury (SCI) carry a mortality rate of 21% to 30%. However, little has been described with regard to outcomes for elderly patients with isolated cervical spine fractures (ICSF). Hypothesis: Outcomes for elderly patients with ICSF will be similar to elderly patients with cervical fractures and associated traumatic injuries (ATI) or SCI. Methods: A 9-year retrospective analysis was performed on all patients ≥65 years old admitted to a level I trauma center with any cervical spine fracture. Primary outcomes were defined as favorable (discharge to home or rehabilitation hospital) or unfavorable (death, discharge to a long-term acute care facility, or a skilled nursing facility). ICSF was defined as those fractures without ATI or SCI. Long-term mortality data were gathered using the Social Security Death Index. Results: A total of 177 patients with mean age of 78 ± 1 and Injury Severity Score of 17 ± 1 were evaluated. Fifty-six percent were men and falls were the most common mechanism (62%). An unfavorable outcome was seen in 56% of the study population with a mortality rate of 25%. ATIs were seen in 57% of the population and 22% had SCI. Patients with SCI had a significantly higher mortality compared with patients without SCI (38% vs. 22%, p = 0.032). However, there was no difference in unfavorable outcomes. Patients with ICSF had no differences in unfavorable outcomes compared with patients with SCI or ATI. Long-term survival analysis after discharge (mean = 2.8 years) demonstrated that patients with a favorable outcome had a significantly improved survival compared with patients with unfavorable outcomes (p < 0.001). Conclusion: ICSFs were associated with an unfavorable outcome in the elderly population regardless of ATI or SCI. These unfavorable outcomes were also associated with long-term mortality. Strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in this devastating injury will be essential to improve outcomes and maximize resource utilization.