The initial management of the polytrauma patient follows the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) practice of airway and cervical spine control, breathing and circulation. Assessment of injuries takes place initially in the form of a primary survey, during which time life-threatening injuries are excluded. This is followed by a secondary survey when a more detailed assessment of injuries is carr...

Abstract Background Spinal injuries are present in 16–31% of polytraumatized patients. Rapid identification spinal requiring immobilization or operative treatment is essential. The Lodox-Statscan (LS) has evolved into a promising time-saving diagnostic tool to diagnose life-threatening with an anterior-posterior (AP)-full-body digital X-ray. Methods We aimed analyze the accuracy and interrater ...

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is characterized by calcifications and ossification of ligaments and tendon insertions. The patients with DISH are susceptible to spinal column injury with trivial trauma due to immobilization of vertebrae and this easily leads to spinal cord injury. However, only few reports on hyperextension injuries of the thoracolumbar spine with DISH exist. H...

Adult mammalian brains undergo reorganization following deafferentations due to peripheral nerve, cortical or spinal cord injuries. The largest extent of cortical reorganization is seen in area 3b of the somatosensory cortex of monkeys with chronic transection of the dorsal roots or dorsal columns of the spinal cord. These injuries cause expansion of intact face inputs into the deafferented han...

The spinal cord is a pathway for messages to and from the brain and other parts of the body. It has nerve cells called neurons that are divided into white matter, which has a fatty white coating called myelin, and gray matter. The spinal cord is protected by the bony spine. When the spinal cord is injured, the injury happens in two stages: the first of these is the actual injury where the cord ...

The high tackle around the neck is illegal but still commonplace in South African rugby. An analysis of 40 rugby players who sustained spinal cord injury during the period 1985-1989 revealed that 8 were injured by a high tackle. The case histories and radiographs of these 8 players were analysed. The majority sustained flexion-rotation injuries after being tackled from the side. Another mechani...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. PURPOSE To outline the etiology, complications and management difficulties encountered in the management of neglected thoracolumbar spine injuries. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE The English literature describes overlooked diagnosis as the most common cause of neglected spine injuries. However, the reasons differ in developing or under-developed nations. Moreover, ...

Posterior cervical wiring is commonly performed for patients with spinal instability, but has inherent risks. We report eight patients who had neurological deterioration after sublaminar or spinous process wiring of the cervical spine; four had complete injuries of the spinal cord, one had residual leg spasticity and three recovered after transient injuries. We found no relation between the deg...

PURPOSE Phantom sensations are somatic phenomena arising from denervated parts of the body. There is very little research, and much diagnostic confusion, regarding such experiences in people with spinal cord injuries. In the case of 'complete' spinal cord lesions, phantom experiences may challenge, and indeed, contradict, the understanding that both clinicians and patients have of such injuries...