Cervical Spine Trauma in Arthritic, Stiff, or Osteoporotic Patients

Cervical spine injuries in elderly patients may be seen after relatively minor trauma when compared with younger patients. Important differences with regard to pathogenesis, neurologic deficits, and outcomes are noted with cervical injuries in arthritic and/or osteoporotic patients. The causes of injury are often due to falls from standing height. The early mortality data for associated spinal cord injuries with cervical trauma in this group are bleak. Beneficial effects of surgical treatment have been observed for some of these injuries, especially when considering the risks of long-term immobilization with restrictive devices including the halo-vest. Societal and psychological issues play important roles in long term morbidity and mortality for these patients.