NEUROLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT AFTER CERVICAL TRACTION IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL SPINE INJURY

Objective: To estimate frequency of neurological improvement after cervical traction in patients with cervical spine injury. Methodology: This observational study was conducted at Department of Neurosurgery, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar - Pakistan from December 2010 to November 2011. The medical record of all cases, in which cervical traction was applied for cervical spine injury, was checked from record room. Documentation was done according to proforma designed, indicating age, sex, neurological status before and after cervical traction and investigations with findings on X-rays, CT and MRI. The data was analyzed from different angles in SPSS software. Results: A total of 30 patients were included in this study. There were 20 males and 10 females. The age of the patients ranged from 13 to 80 years (mean= 31.07±15.45). Majority of the patients (83.3%) were young, in the age range of 13- 40 years. Neurological improvement was noted in 14 (46.7%) patients. It was more in age group of 13-20 years (66.7%) and in those who presented with weakness of Frankle grade “B” and “C” (66.7% each). The improvement was more in patients in whom anatomical alignment of spine was achieved. Conclusion: Skeletal cervical traction is safe and effective means of early decompression of spinal cord with neurological improvement. It is more effective in young individuals and those presenting with Frankle grade B and C weakness.