Treatment of Isolated “Floating Lateral Mass” Fractures of the Cervical Spine: A Case Series

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Juan Ignacio Cirillo
Esteban Peña
Guillermo A. Ricciardi
Martín Contreras
Rodrigo Pons Belmonte
José Vía Dorado
Charles Carazzo
Grupo de Estudio de Trauma AO Spine América Latina

Abstract

Introduction: We report a series of patients with “floating lateral mass” cervical fractures, focusing on the role of disc injury in potential segmental instability.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study on a case series of isolated floating lateral mass facet fractures diagnosed between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2022. Patients with floating lateral mass lesions according to the AO classification, diagnosed by computed tomography, and at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Patients with pathological fractures, bone fragility injuries and incomplete records were excluded.
Results: We included 16 cases, the average age was 42.86 (SD 12.396), and the majority were male (n=13; 81.25%). 68.75% (n=11) had intervertebral disc injury in the fractured segment, while 18.75% (n=3) had anterolisthesis. Conservative treatment was proposed for 12 weeks in 11 patients (68.75%), of whom 5 (45.4%) achieved fracture healing and 6 (54.6%) progressed to translation. Cases where conservative treatment failed were associated with intervertebral disc injury. Eleven patients were treated surgically, mostly with monosegmental anterior cervical arthrodesis.
Conclusions: We report a series of cases in which the existence of an associated intervertebral disc injury was more frequent in patients with failed conservative treatment and in those initially treated with arthrodesis. Most of the surgical cases were treated using an anterior approach with discectomy and anterior cervical arthrodesis at a single level, with favorable outcomes.

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How to Cite
Cirillo , J. I., Peña, E., Ricciardi, G. A., Contreras, M., Pons Belmonte, R., Vía Dorado, J., Carazzo, C., & AO Spine América Latina, G. de E. de T. (2024). Treatment of Isolated “Floating Lateral Mass” Fractures of the Cervical Spine: A Case Series. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 89(1), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2024.89.1.1860
Section
Clinical Research
Author Biographies

Juan Ignacio Cirillo , Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Esteban Peña, Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Guillermo A. Ricciardi, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. Teodoro Álvarez”, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. Teodoro Álvarez”, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Martín Contreras, Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Rodrigo Pons Belmonte, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital Marcial Quiroga, San Juan, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital Marcial Quiroga, San Juan, Argentina

José Vía Dorado, Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Orthopedics and Traumatology; Vertebral Column; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile

Charles Carazzo, Neurosurgery, São Vicente de Paulo Hospital, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil

Neurosurgery, São Vicente de Paulo Hospital, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil

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