Comparative Analysis of Characteristics of Lower- and Mid-Cervical Spine Injuries in the Elderly

This study compares lower- and mid-cervical spine injuries in elderly patients to understand differences in how these injuries occur and their effects. The research found that lower-cervical injuries in the elderly are more likely to result from high-energy trauma compared to mid-cervical injuries. Despite the injury location, a significant portion of patients with lower-cervical injuries still experience neurological deficits typically associated with mid-cervical injuries.

• 1
  Elderly patients with lower-cervical injuries are significantly more likely to have sustained the injury from high-energy trauma compared to those with mid-cervical injuries.
• 2
  A substantial proportion (25%-39%) of patients with lower-cervical injuries also exhibited neurological deficits at the mid-cervical level.
• 3
  Patients with lower-cervical injuries were significantly less likely to undergo decompression surgery compared to those with mid-cervical injuries.