Rapid incremental closed traction reduction of cervical facet fracture dislocation: the Stoke Mandeville experience.

Study design: Retrospective case series study.

Objective: To determine the success rate and neurological outcomes of rapid incremental closed traction reduction (RICTR) of cervical dislocations with spinal cord compression in the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC), between June 2006 and December 2011.

Setting: Tertiary spinal injuries centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, UK.

Methods: A list of cervical trauma patients who were admitted to NSIC between January 2006 and December 2011 was retrieved from the hospital's electronic records, consultant and admission logbooks. Patients, admitted within 7 days of cervical facet dislocation and spinal cord injury (SCI), were included. Retrospective data collection and analysis was done using a data collection form and an Excel spreadsheet.

Results: Seventeen patients have met the eligibility criteria of the study. One patient was excluded because he only had nerve root symptoms. The procedure was successful in 44% of the cases. Eighty-six percent of patients in the successful RICTR group improved in their discharge motor index score (MIS), whereas 43% improved in their post-reduction MIS. Overall, 81% of the cohort had improvements in their discharge MIS.

Conclusion: Our RICTR success rate was low compared to the reported average success rate in the literature, likely due to delays in admission. Neurological outcomes were favourable in the majority of patients at discharge. In our opinion, early admission and RICTR attempts could have improved the results and therefore we would recommend that RICTR procedures are done for suitable patients in the Emergency Departments of Major Trauma Centres (MTC).