Clinical significance of X-ray lateral radiograph for evaluating the postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling after anterior cervical fusion
10.11659/jjssx.06E014181
- VernacularTitle:颈椎前路融合术后根据侧位X线评估椎前软组织肿胀的临床意义
- Author:
Junxiong MA
;
Liangbi XIANG
;
Hailong YU
;
Yu CHEN
;
Qi WANG
;
Jun LIU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
anterior cervical fusion;
prevertebral soft tissue swelling;
X-ray evaluating
- From:Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery
2015;(1):14-16,17
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the relationship among the prevertebral soft tissue swelling, surgical extent, surgical segments, and complications and to investigate the clinical significance of lateral radiographs for evaluating the postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling. Methods 123 patients who underwent anterior cervical fusion with plate augmentation for cervical spondylosis were included in this study. The postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling was measured by lateral radiographs. The data were analysed according to surgical extent and surgical segments. Patients were divided into the swelling group (61cases, >9. 98 mm) and the non-swelling group (62 cases, <9. 98 mm) based on the degree of prevertebral soft tissue swelling. The incidences of complications, such as dyspnea and dysphagia, were ana-lysed. Results The rate of dyspnea was 21. 3% in swelling group, which was higher than 8. 1% in non-swelling group (P<0. 05). The rate of dysphagia was 83. 6% in swelling group, which was higher than 25. 8% in non-swelling group (P<0. 05). In addition, postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling was 8. 29 mm averagely after one-level fusion, which was less than that after two or more levels fusion (11. 55 mm and 10. 40 mm) (P<0. 05). Postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling was 10. 94 mm after high-level fusion (above C4), which was more than that low-level fusion (below C5) (8. 63 mm) (P<0. 05). Conclusion After anterior cervical fusion for cervical spondylosis, when the degree of prevertebral soft tissue swelling is greater the incidences of complications such as dyspnea and dysphagia might be higher. In addition, prevertebral soft tissue swelling increments are significantly greater in patients who had undergone multi-level or high-level fusion ( above C5 ) . Evaluation of prevertebral soft tissue swelling using lateral radiographs is a clinically meaningful procedure.
