Aims:This study was done with the aim to compare the clinical outcome and patients’ quality of life between early versus delayed surgically treated patients of acute subaxial cervical spinal cord injury. The current study was based on the hypothesis that early surgical decompression and fixations in acute subaxial cervical spinal cord trauma is safe and is associated with improved outcome as compared to delayed surgical decompression.Materials and Methods:A total of 69 patients were recruited and divided into early decompression surgery Group A (operated within 48 h of trauma; n = 23) and late/delayed decompression surgery Group B (operated between 48 h and 7 days of trauma; n = 46). The patients in both groups were followed up, and comparative differences noted in the neurological outcome, quality of life, and bony fusion.Results:The early surgery group spent lesser days in the intensive care unit and hospital (Group A 28.6 vs. Group B 35 days) had lesser postoperative complications (Group A 43% vs. Group B 61%) and a reduced mortality (Group A 30% vs. Group B 45%). In Group A, 38% patients had 1 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade improvement while 31% experienced >2 ASIA grade improvement. In Group B, the neurological improvement was 27% and 32%, respectively (P = 0.7). There was a significant improvement in the postoperative quality of life scores in both groups.Conclusion:Early surgery in patients with acute subaxial cervical spine injury should be considered strongly in view of the lesser complications, early discharge, and reduced mortality.

Background:Traumatic head injury is a common cause of mortality and acquired disability in infants and children. However, patterns and outcome of head injury in infants are different from other age groups.Aims and Objectives:Aim of our study was to find out epidemiological factors, characteristics of injury, and outcome in infants with traumatic brain injury.Materials and Methods:This is a retrospective study from March 2009 through Feb 2012, at JPNATC, AIIMS, New Delhi. The clinical records of all patients, admitted with head injury were evaluated. Twenty-nine infants with traumatic brain injury were followed up and outcome was analyzed.Results:Twenty-nine infants with traumatic brain injury were included in the study. Of these 17 (59%) were boys and 12 (41%) were girls. Fall from height was recorded in 27 (93%) patients and road traffic accident was the mode of injury in 2 (7%). Mild head injury (GCS 14-15) was found in 18 (62%) patients, moderate in 4 (14%) patients (GCS 9-13), severe (GCS 3-8) in 7 (24%) patients. SDH was the most common injury in 8 (27%) patients. Out of these 4 (14%) were immediately operated, 25 (86%) were managed conservatively. Overall mortality was 11% (3 patients). Glasgow Outcome Scale was 5 in 20 (69%) patients and 3 (10.3%) patients each had GOS 3 or 4.Conclusion:Infants suffered significant brain injury due to fall. Traumatic brain injury in infants generally carries good outcome. Severe head injury was observed to be a predictor of poor outcome.

The present study is the largest series of pediatric symptomatic VH. This procedure is a safe, efficient method to treat symptomatic pediatric VH with severe cord compression. It seems to serve the purpose of providing embolization, cord decompression, rigid fusion at the same sitting without adding new morbidity, and preventing excessive blood loss.

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Combined fracture involving atlas together associated with axis (CAAF) accounts for approximately 3 % of traumatic cervical spine injury, CAAF are rarely reported, so modalities of management and outcome are not well understood, due to paucity of literature and only few reports reported in the form of isolated case report. CAFF management possess challenge as it is associated with high incidence non-union with previously conservative method. However, missed diagnosis and subsequent delay may be associated with catastrophic worsening in neurological deficit. So early diagnosis and management remains the key for successful neurological outcome. Such fractures are rare. Authors report five such cases of CAFF, all required surgical management with good outcome with no mortality. Current study, all cases were males (n=5), commonest mode of injury was fall (n=3), time interval since injury was within 24 hours in (n=4), however rest one presented after a gap of eight months. Commonest clinical feature was neck pain (n=3), neurological deficit (n=2), neck tenderness and swelling tenderness (n=3) Neuroimaging including X-ray, CT scan and MRI were carried out for all cases revealed fracture of arches of atlas (n=5), one case had multiple site fracture of both arches, odontoid fracture (n=2), lateral mass of atlas fracture in 1 cases. Astonishingly two cases had disruption of transverse ligament. Surgical procedures performed considering economic consideration included occipito-cervcial fusion (n=3), transarticular C1-C2 fusion and anterior odontoid screw fixation in one cases each. Management options in CAFF and review of literature discussed in present study.