A study of the influence of posterior column sensory sparing on initial presentation of cervical injuries on the ultimate prognosis

Abstract

From previous papers from five separate Spinal Injury Centres, namely Perth, Western Australia, Stoke Mandeville, U.K., Heidelberg, Germany, Tokushima, Japan and South West Region, U.S.A., a total of 665 patients with cervical spine injuries have been extracted. These were grouped according to the Frankel classification on neurological status on admission and again on discharge. This has been used to assess the prognosis on the initial classification of the ultimate neurological recovery, as is indicated by the tabulated results. A small group of Perth patients have been further reviewed, the Frankel B group were sub-divided into B1 posterior column sparing only, and B2, fuller sensory sparing, to assess any difference in ultimate outcome. With only small numbers available at present, no major prognostic significance has been demonstrated by using such a division. © 1987 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.