Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 2
Upper Cervical Region Traumas in Geriatric Patients
Atilla KIRCELLİ1, Tufan CANSEVER1, Cem YILMAZ2
1Başkent Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
2Başkent Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
In the light of the studies of 65 years and older patients is found to be especially prone to the upper cervical spine trauma. In young patients cervical trauma are evolving after higher energy accidents however low energy trauma in elderly patients is sufficient for cervical traumas. Younger patients were more frequent in the middle and lower cervical spine injury while on are damaged more frequently in elderly patients with upper cervical region. Approaches to the elderly patients with upper cervical trauma, diagnosis, treatment options and the results of the treatment, complications and mortality rates were examined in the presence of the literature. Trauma of the upper cervical spine and delayed diagnosis are common in elderly patients due to low energy injuries. There is no complete consensus on treatment. The complications of surgical and conservative treatment are also available and a certain level of mortality and risk factors were not specified statistically in the literature. Halo or collar immobilization should be limited to stable lesions. Unstable fractures must be fixed surgically. In patients undergoing surgery have faster and ensuring a high rate of union, are accelerated to return to their pre-trauma daily life. A prospective descriptive study of this complex, frequent, and sometimes life-threatening pathology is necessary to prepare a better guidelines for the treatment. Anahtar Kelimeler : Upper cervical region, Trauma, Geriatric patient