LES TRAUMATISMES DU RACHIS CERVICAL INFERIEUR: A PROPOS DE 19 CAS OPERES PAR VOIE ANTERIEURE A L’HOPITAL PRINCIPAL DE DAKAR.

Because of its mobility, the cervical spine is exposed to trauma, specially on its lowest part (C3 to C7). It is a retrospective study concerning 19 patients checked- in and operated by anterior approach at Hôpital Principal de Dakar between 1999 and 2001 after a clinical exam and quotation of Frankel before and after intervention and X-ray exam. The follow up had been made over a medium period of 10 months. Although, we report a population of 19 patients with cervical spine injury. Our study shows that the low part of cervical spine is involved on 42,2% of patients (19/45 cases), and 86,3% of cervical spine trauma (19/22 cases). Spine injuries were related on road traffic accidents on 79% (15/19 cases). The sex ratio was 15:4 and the mean age was 36,7 years old (the extremes were 19 years and 52 years). Neurological injury was noticed in 15 cases (78,9%). Lesion of the level C4-C5 was noticed on 10 cases (52,6%), and then following by C5-C6 (31,6%) and C6-C7 (15,8%). All the patients underwent surgery using cervical spine anterior approach, after medium delay of 11 days. The follow up shows a good recovery for 52% of the patients. 26% had permanent deficit and the death rate was 21%. The high mobility of the lower cervical spine, is a consequence of neurological disease after trauma. The prognosis depends on traumatic lesions, and rapidity of their management. Key words: lo