[A protocol recommended for treating acute complicated and uncomplicated spinal injuries in adult patients (Association of Neurosurgeons of Russia). Part 1]

[Role of the RUANS recommendation protocol for decision-making in patients with acute traumatic cervical spine injuries]

Since 2013, neurosurgeons have been guided by the RUANS recommendation protocol for surgical management of patients with acute cervical spine fractures in Russia. However, there are no studies devoted to interobserver agreement between specialists with different experience.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of the RUANS recommendation protocol for decision-making in patients with acute traumatic cervical spine injuries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-one neurosurgeons from 5 hospitals estimated data of 64 patients with cervical spine fractures. The study implied choosing an option for patient treatment (conservative therapy; anterior, posterior and circular fusion surgery). Two evaluations of CT and MR scans with an interval of 1.5 months were conducted. In the main group (9/21), neurosurgeons strictly followed the RUANS recommendation protocol during re-evaluation. In the control group (12/21), neurosurgeons analysed data considering their own knowledge and experience. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using a Fleiss' or Cohen's Kappa (K).

RESULTS

Among the junior neurosurgeons (up to 5 years of experience), change in consent level during re-evaluation was greater in the main group (∆K=0.25) compared to the control group (∆K= -0.17). Among neurosurgeons with medium level of experience (5-10 years), ∆K was 0.19 in the main group and -0.15 in the control group. Among experienced neurosurgeons (over 10 years of experience), the main group showed an increase in Kappa (∆K=0.24), while level of consent remained almost the same in the control group (∆K=0.05).

CONCLUSION

The RUANS recommendation protocol can significantly improve interobserver agreement between specialists with various levels of experience regarding management of acute cervical spine injury.

[Functional state of spinal cord and its radices in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine injuries]

AIM

To estimate the character of neurophysiological monitoring in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine injuries at different treatment stages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with non-complicated (22 patients, group 1) and complicated (16 patients, group 2) thoracic and lumbar spine injuries underwent electroneuromyography (ENM) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The examination was performed at early (up to 2 weeks) and later (more than 1 month) post-injury periods, before the operation and on the 10^th day after decompressing-stabilizing interventions.

RESULTS

Before the operation, 71.4% patients of group 1 had ENM-signs of suppressed motor neuron activity in L5 segment of the spinal cord with peroneal nerve axonopathy. The most significant changes in ENM-indexes were observed in medullary channel stenosis of more than 30%. TMS parameters in group 1 were normal while in the 2^nd group, EMN and TMS results before the operation demonstrated preserved motor neuron activity at the injury level despite gross neurological symptoms and 100% of medullary channel lumen deficit. In the postoperative period, ENM and TMS revealed no definite negative dynamics in patients of both groups. Patients with locomotor disorders, who underwent surgery at late post-injury periods, showed neurophysiological dynamics on the 10^th day postoperatively. Low amplitude motor evoked potentials (kMEP), which were not present before, suggested initial signs of conductibility restoration (in 22% of patients) that proved the effectiveness of decompressive interventions in the long-term post-injury period.

CONCLUSION

ENM- and TMS monitoring in patients with complicated and non-complicated injuries of thoracic and lumbar spine allowed revealing the positive influence of decompressing-stabilizing operations conducted both at early and late post-injury periods on the state of spinal cord conductibility and segmental apparatus.