Chest Injuries Associated with Head Injury

Background: Although there have been significant advances in the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI), associated severe injuries, in particular chest injuries, remain a major challenge. This paper analyses the contribution of chest injuries to the outcome of head injuries in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and the Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery (MHN) in Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of the medical records, operative notes, and radiological findings of all patients admitted for head injury who had associated significant chest injuries in the MHN from 2002 to 2009 and the UNTH between 2007 and 2010. Patients with only head injury and other extracranial injury not affecting the chest were excluded. Patients who were inadequately investigated were also excluded. Results: Nineteen patients from the MHN and 11 patients from the UNTH were analyzed. Ages ranged from 9 to 65 years and the male:female ratio was 3:1. Injuries were most common between 30 and 50 years and road traffic accident accounted for 60%. Barotrauma from ventilation was documented in 2 patients. The commonest types of intrathoracic injuries are pneumothorax and hemothorax. Chest wall injuries are more common but carry less morbidity and mortality. Only 20% of patients presented within 48 hours of injury. Management of the associated chest trauma commenced in the referring hospitals only in 26.4% of the patients. All patients with hemopneumothorax had tube thoracostomy as did 96% of patients with pneumothorax. 10% of patients with haemothorax needed thoracotomy. Mortality is 43%, which is higher than for patients with only TBI with comparable Glasgow coma scale. Outcome is influenced by the time to admission and the GCS on admission. Conclusion: Associated chest injuries result in higher mortality from head injuries. This association is more likely in the young and more productive. All patients presenting with head and spinal cord injury should be specifically and carefully evaluated for associated chest injuries. Computerized tomographic has not replaced the need for good quality chest radiograph in the emergency management of Head Injury associated chest trauma.Keywords: Chest injuries, head injuries, outcomeNigerian Journal of Surgery, Jan-Jun 2012 | Volume 18 | Issue

Chest injuries associated with head injury

Background: Although there have been significant advances in the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI), associated severe injuries, in particular chest injuries, remain a major challenge. This paper analyses the contribution of chest injuries to the outcome of head injuries in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and the Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery (MHN) in Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of the medical records, operative notes, and radiological findings of all patients admitted for head injury who had associated significant chest injuries in the MHN from 2002 to 2009 and the UNTH between 2007 and 2010. Patients with only head injury and other extracranial injury not affecting the chest were excluded. Patients who were inadequately investigated were also excluded. Results: Nineteen patients from the MHN and 11 patients from the UNTH were analyzed. Ages ranged from 9 to 65 years and the male:female ratio was 3:1. Injuries were most common between 30 and 50 years and road traffic accident accounted for 60%. Barotrauma from ventilation was documented in 2 patients. The commonest types of intrathoracic injuries are pneumothorax and hemothorax. Chest wall injuries are more common but carry less morbidity and mortality. Only 20% of patients presented within 48 hours of injury. Management of the associated chest trauma commenced in the referring hospitals only in 26.4% of the patients. All patients with hemo-pneumothorax had tube thoracostomy as did 96% of patients with pneumothorax. 10% of patients with haemothorax needed thoracotomy. Mortality is 43%, which is higher than for patients with only TBI with comparable Glasgow coma scale. Outcome is influenced by the time to admission and the GCS on admission. Conclusion: Associated chest injuries result in higher mortality from head injuries. This association is more likely in the young and more productive. All patients presenting with head and spinal cord injury should be specifically and carefully evaluated for associated chest injuries. Computerized tomographic has not replaced the need for good quality chest radiograph in the emergency management of Head Injury associated chest trauma

Modified laminoplasty for degenerative cervical spondylosis: The technique of floating laminoplasty

Background: Laminoplasty is an established alternative to laminectomy for posterior cervical decompression in spondylotic myelopathy. However, standard laminoplasty requires internal fixation, which is often not obtainable in developing countries. We present our experience with a technique of noninstrumented (floating) laminoplasty developed to avoid the need to anchor the laminoplasty to the anterior elements.Methods: We have used floating laminoplasty (FL) for posterior cervical decompression in patients with cervical spondylosis since 2004 and report the technique and our experience with it between 2009 and 2014 when C‑arm and magnetic resonance imaging became available in our unit. Patients who had classical laminectomy and hemilaminectomies were excluded. The operation involved bilateral approach to the laminae through a midline incision with generous sparing of the supraspinous, interspinal and interlaminar ligaments. During closure the laminoplasty was hitched to the ligamentum nuchae. Nurick grading was used for clinical evaluation. Patients were followed for at least 1 year.Results: There were 36 patients with age range between 32 and 72 years (mean: 56.5 years). Male to female ratio was 3:1. Most patients presented with advanced disease, with 25%, 36%, and 30% at Nurick Grade 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Postoperatively, all (100%) patients with Nurick Grade 2 and 3 improved to Grade 1 or 0, while 9 (69%) of the 13 at Grade 4 improved to Grade 2 or better. Only 1 (9.1%) of 11 operated at Grade 5 did not improve while 3 (27%) improved to Grade 2 or better. No postoperative instability was identified on follow‑up.Conclusion: FL is a safe and simple procedure that preserves spine stability and minimizes postoperative spinal deformity.Keywords: Cervical spondylosis, laminoplasty, ligamentous suspensio

Modified Laminoplasty for Degenerative Cervical Spondylosis: The Technique of Floating Laminoplasty

Background: Laminoplasty is an established alternative to laminectomy for posterior cervical decompression in spondylotic myelopathy. However, standard laminoplasty requires internal fixation, which is often not obtainable in developing countries. We present our experience with a technique of noninstrumented (floating) laminoplasty developed to avoid the need to anchor the laminoplasty to the anterior elements. Methods: We have used floating laminoplasty (FL) for posterior cervical decompression in patients with cervical spondylosis since 2004 and report the technique and our experience with it between 2009 and 2014 when C-arm and magnetic resonance imaging became available in our unit. Patients who had classical laminectomy and hemilaminectomies were excluded. The operation involved bilateral approach to the laminae through a midline incision with generous sparing of the supraspinous, interspinal and interlaminar ligaments. During closure the laminoplasty was hitched to the ligamentum nuchae. Nurick grading was used for clinical evaluation. Patients were followed for at least 1 year. Results: There were 36 patients with age range between 32 and 72 years (mean: 56.5 years). Male to female ratio was 3:1. Most patients presented with advanced disease, with 25%, 36%, and 30% at Nurick Grade 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Postoperatively, all (100%) patients with Nurick Grade 2 and 3 improved to Grade 1 or 0, while 9 (69%) of the 13 at Grade 4 improved to Grade 2 or better. Only 1 (9.1%) of 11 operated at Grade 5 did not improve while 3 (27%) improved to Grade 2 or better. No postoperative instability was identified on follow-up. Conclusion: FL is a safe and simple procedure that preserves spine stability and minimizes postoperative spinal deformity