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Instability concept
Guillem Saló Bru, MD, Phd AOSpine Principles Symposium- Cervical SpineOrthopaedic Depatment. Spine Unit.
Hospital del Mar. Barcelona.Associated Professor UAB Barcelona, February 2014
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Disclosure information
I have no financial relationships with commercial entities that produce
health-care related products.
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Case problem.
• 51 years –old man.
• Occipital trauma due car
accident.
• Cervical pain.
• Normal neurological
assessment.
• X-ray:
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• Soft collar.• Persistence of neck pain.• Deformity in flexion.• Re-consulting two weeks later...
Case Problem.
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Case problem.
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Case problem.
C5
C6
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Dynamic X-ray
Case Problem.
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CT-Scan
Case Problem.
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1 year
Case Problem.
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Definition
• “loss of ability of the spine under physiologic loads to maintain relationships in such a way that there is neither damage nor subsequent irritation to the spinal cord or nerve roots and, in addition, there is no development of incapacitating deformity or pain”
A White, MM Panjabi, Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine. , 1990.
Under physiologic loads.Potential for:
• Inceased deformity (first degree instability)
• Neurologic Damage (second degree instability).
• Pain / Disability
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Definition
• Basic elements of Systematic Analysis of Instability in cervical spine:• Anatomic elements of stability.• Biomechanics of normal cervical spine• Instability criteria of cervical spine.
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Anatomic Considerations: cervical vertebras
45º 0º
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Trabecular Anatomy
The trabecular anatomy of the axis Authors:Heggeness,M.H.; Doherty,B.J.Source:Spine, 1993, 18, 14, 1945-1949, UNITED STATES
• Important transition point for forces within the c-spine
• Important anatomical points• Superior and inferior articular
processes are “offset” in the AP direction- due to different functions at each articulation
• Pars interarticularis- due to this transition is a frequent fracture site
• Odontoid process- the “pivot”for rotation
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Occiput
C1
C2
Tranverse Ligament
C1-C2 joint
Alar Ligament
Anatomic Considerations: Atlanto-Axial Anatomy
• Allow for the wide range of motion of upper C-spine while maintaining stability
• Classified according to location with respect to vertebral canal1. Internal ligaments:• Tectorial membrane• Cruciate ligament –
including transverse ligament
• Alar and apical ligaments
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Anatomic Considerations: Atlanto-Axial Anatomy
Tectorial Membrane
2. External ligaments:• Anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membranes• Anterior and posterior atlanto-axial membranes• Articular capsules• Ligamentum nuchae
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Anatomic Considerations: Lower C- Spine
1. Anterior: anteriorlongitudinal ligament.
2. Posterior complex:•Ligamentum nuchae•Ligamentum interspinous.•Ligamentum flavum.•Capsule of facet joints
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Cervical mobility
Biomechanics of cervical spine.
White y Pandjabi, Clinical Biomechanics of the spine. JP Lippincott , Philadelphia 2ª ed 1990
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Total Flexion-extension 130ºC2-C7 flexion exension:100ºC1-C2 flexion exension: 20- 30º
Biomechanics of cervical spine.
Kapandji IA, cuadernos de fisiologia articular, Masson 1991
Total Lateral Bending 45ºC0-C1 lateral bending 8ºC2-C7 lateral bending 37º
Total Rotation 80ºC1-C2 rotation 24ºC2-C7 rotation 56º
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Instantaneus centers of rotation of lower cervical spine (White y Pandjabi, Clinical Biomechanics ofthe spine. JP Lippincott , Philadelphia 2ª ed 1990).
Biomechanics of cervical spine.
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The displacement of instantaneous centers of rotation involves Cervical coupling in combinedmovemens
White y Pandjabi, Clinical Biomechanics of the spine. JP Lippincott , Philadelphia 2ª ed 1990
Biomechanics of cervical spine.
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Bodyresistence toaxial load (Newtons).
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
L5
L4
L3
L2
L1
T12
T11
T2
T1
C7
C6
C5
C4
C3
LEVEL
White y Pandjabi, Clinical Biomechanics of the spine. JP Lippincott , Philadelphia 2ª ed 1990
Biomechanics of cervical spine.
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
White y Pandjabi, Clinical Biomechanics of the spine. JP Lippincott , Philadelphia 2ª ed 1990
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
>4mm
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
Overhang C1-C2
• Open Mouth view.
• Lateral displacement of C1 Laterral masses.
• Instability > 7 mm
• Implies rupture of transverse ligament
Spence, JBJS, 1970
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Instability criteria of cervical spine(C0-C2).
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
Powers’ Ratio• BC/OA
• >1 considered abnormal• Limited Usefulness• Positive only in Anterior Translational injuries• False Negative with pure distraction
Powers et al, Neurosurg, 1979
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Swischuk’s line: pathologic > 2mm.Only indicates regional kyphosis.
Swischuk LE. The cervical spine in childhood. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 1984 Sep-Oct;13(5):1-26.
Instability criteria of cervical spine (C0-C2).
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Instability criteria of cervical spine(C2-C7).
Pavlov’s ratio (A/B) ≥0.8
White AA III, Panjabi MM. The problem of clinical instability in the human spine. A systematic approach. Clinicalbiomechanics of the spine, 2nd ed. JB Lippincott 1990, 277–378.
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
TOTAL: 10 points
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
TOTAL: 7 points
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
Three-column concept of cervical spine stability: Stabilizing structures divided into three columns. Insufficiency of two or three columns indicates instability, whereas injuries of one column may be stable.
White et al. (1975) found that cervical spines with intact anterior structures plus one posterior element, or spines with intact posterior structures plus one anterior structure remain biomechanically stableunder physiological loads.
Denis F. The three column spine and its significance in the classification of acute thoracolumbar spinal injuries. Spine 1983; 8:817–831White AA III, Johnson RM, Panjabi MM, Southwick WO. Biomechanical analysis of clinical stability in the cervical spine. Clin Orthop 1975; 109:85–96..
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
The classification system is based on morphologic descriptionsand, secondly, by stability based on a quantifiable value. Fourcolumn model
• Severity score of 0 to 20, =>7 surgery• In patiens with multiple levels of injury, only the most
severe level is scored
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
• Ant = 5• R pilar = 5• L pilar = 5• Post =5
TOTAL = 20
right left
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7).
• Ant = 2.5• R pilar = 1• L pilar = 3• Post =4
TOTAL = 10.5
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Instability criteria of cervical spine (C2-C7)
Interobservor ICC:0.83Intraobservor ICC:0.97
Excellent reliability
Alllow more acuratedetermination of stability anddictate treatement.
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Radiologic considerations.
• Rx-rays, CT scan: Both are esential to identify and typify the cervical injury.
• MRI: the better tool to asses the cervical soft tissues injury and ligament instability.
• Increased Signal Intensity in :• Joints• Capsular• Spinal Cord• Ligaments• Pre-vertebral soft tissues
Warner et al, Emerg Radiol, 1996
Dickman et al, J Neurosurg, 1991
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Conclusions. Take at home message.
• Its important to know the structures at risk in cervical
spine trauma.
• Understand the patogenesis of cervical injuries
• Assesement of cervical instability is esential to plain the
treatment of fractures.
• Is necessary to identificate unstable cervical injuries in
order to administrate the appropiate treatment.
• Underestimated lesions could lead to a catastrofic results.