1.Treatment for Lateral Flexion Fracture Dislocation of the Cervical Spine: Report of Two Cases
Itsuo Shiina ; Shigeru Hioki ; Hiroshi Kamada ; Kuniaki Amano ; Hiroshi Noguchi
Journal of Rural Medicine 2010;5(2):194-197
The injury mechanism of traumatic cervical spine injury varies, and Allen et al. divide cervical spine injuries into 6 types based on the direction of external force at the time of injury. In this report, we present 2 cases as Lateral Flexion Stage 2. A 51-year-old male (Case 1) was injured in a traffic accident. His conscious level was JCS III-200, and he was found to have a Frankel Grade of B. X-ray revealed a C5/6 fracture dislocation injury of Lateral Flexion Stage 2. We were unable to obtain good reduction. We planned to perform posterior fusion using a cervical spine pedicle screw but could not perform the procedure due to the patient’s poor general condition. A 32-year-old male (Case 2) was injured as a result of being hit by a steel sheet. He had Frankel Grade D paralysis. X-ray revealed a C5/6 fracture dislocation injury of Lateral Flexion Stage 2. We did not perform manual reduction. We performed posterior fixation, anterior decompression and anterior fixation. Bone union was confirmed, and the patient was able to return to work. In cases of this type of fracture dislocation of the cervical spine, the supporting structures of the spinal column circumferentially rupture and induce high instability. Since closed reduction is sometimes difficult and involves risk, strong internal fixation might be recommended.
2.Successful Treatment of Necrotizing Fasciitis and Toxic Shock Syndrome by Hip Amputation and Endotoxin Hemoadsorption
Hiroshi Kamada ; Shigeru Hioki ; Takashi Sato ; Ken Shimizu ; Kuniaki Amano ; Masahiko Takahashi
Journal of Rural Medicine 2008;4(2):91-94
Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but severe condition associated with high mortality. We encountered a patient with severe and rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis. Patient: A 40-year-old male was hit by a tractor and received a wide laceration wound spanning the length of his posterior thigh. Soon after the accident, the wound was washed and debridement was performed. Two days postoperatively, we observed septic changes in the wound and diagnosed this condition as necrotizing fasciitis. Consequently, the patient's leg was amputated at the thigh. The patient, however, developed toxic shock syndrome after the amputation. Endotoxin adsorption using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column was performed for 2 days. Finally, a hip joint amputation was performed after 11 days, following which the patient's general condition gradually improved. Discussion: Treatment for necrotizing fasciitis should be initiated promptly. Early debridement is associated with a significant decrease in mortality. In severe conditions, endotoxin and cytokine removal by blood purification is one of the most effective treatments. Although group A streptococci are widely known as "flesh-eating bacteria," we should also consider a wide variety of pathogenic organisms to be the probable cause of severe necrotizing fasciitis. Conclusion: Management of necrotizing fasciitis requires careful investigation as well as an aggressive therapeutic approach, which may include urgent surgical intervention. In addition to surgery, endotoxin adsorption therapy should be considered.
Patients
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Fasciitis
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Endotoxins
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Therapeutic procedure
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Amputation