Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Department of Healthcare of Older People, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Age Ageing. 2020 Oct 23;49(6):1102-1104. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa088.
cervical spine fractures are particularly prevalent in older people and commonly occur following a fall from standing height or less. Atlanto-axial complex (AAC) and, particularly, odontoid process (OP) fractures are the most prevalent injuries.
to investigate the incidence and characteristics of cervical spine fractures in older patients presenting to a regional spine centre.
a retrospective review of the clinical records and imaging of all patients aged 70 years and over presenting to a regional spinal unit with a cervical injury over a 5-year period was performed. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, level of fracture, stability of the fracture, treatment modality, imaging modality and mortality rates were collected and analysed.
during the period between 2015 and 2019, a total of 209 patients aged 70 years and over were presented to the regional spine unit. The mean age at presentation was 82.4 (±7.5) years. Low-energy trauma was the commonest mechanism of injury (n = 169; 80.9%). MRI was undertaken in a quarter of the patients. One-hundred and fifty-one patients (72.2%) suffered an AAC Injury with OP fractures forming the majority of this group (n = 119; 78.8%). One-hundred and ninety-nine patients were treated conservatively, and the overall 30-day mortality rate was 8.1%.
cervical spine fractures are not uncommon amongst older people and are mostly the result of low-energy trauma and predominantly affect the axial cervical spine. The majority of these injuries are managed conservatively with an orthosis. The fractures nevertheless are a serious injury, with a high mortality rate at 30 days.
颈椎骨折在老年人中尤为常见，通常是从站立高度或更低处跌倒引起的。寰枢复合体（AAC），特别是齿状突（OP）骨折是最常见的损伤。
调查在区域脊柱中心就诊的老年患者颈椎骨折的发生率和特征。
对 5 年内在区域脊柱科就诊的 70 岁及以上有颈椎损伤的所有患者的临床记录和影像学资料进行回顾性分析。收集并分析患者的人口统计学、损伤机制、骨折水平、骨折稳定性、治疗方式、影像学方式和死亡率。
在 2015 年至 2019 年期间，共有 209 名 70 岁及以上的患者就诊于区域脊柱科。就诊时的平均年龄为 82.4（±7.5）岁。低能量创伤是最常见的损伤机制（n=169；80.9%）。四分之一的患者接受了 MRI 检查。151 例患者（72.2%）患有 AAC 损伤，其中 OP 骨折占多数（n=119；78.8%）。199 例患者接受保守治疗，总体 30 天死亡率为 8.1%。
颈椎骨折在老年人中并不少见，多由低能量创伤引起，主要影响颈椎轴向。这些损伤大多数通过矫形器保守治疗。然而，这些骨折是一种严重的损伤，30 天死亡率很高。
