AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System: The Relationship Between Injury Morphology, Admission Injury Severity, and Long-Term Neurologic Outcome

The AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System was introduced to improve communication, clinical management, and research. Here, the system was studied in relation to injury severity along with admission and long term neurologic follow-up. A retrospective study was performed in subaxial cervical spine injury patients. Morphology was classified using the AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System. Six major morphology subtypes were selected for analysis. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor and Abbreviated Injury Severity (AIS) scores were recorded at admission and at follow-up >6 months. Admission intramedullary lesion length (IMLL) on MRI was recorded. In all, 82 patients met criteria for analysis. The mean follow-up time was 11 months (range, 6-33 months). The were 36 patients with morphology subtypes A0, 4 with A1/A2, 9 with A3/A4, 8 with B2, 11 with B3, and 14 with C. The A1/2 subtype had the least severe injuries on admission. The C and A3/A4 subtypes had the most severe injuries. The subtype C had the lowest ASIA Motor Score (AMS) and second highest percentage of complete injuries. A3/A4 patients had the highest percentage of complete injuries on admission. At follow-up, A3/A4 patients had the lowest AMS, and 33% of patients continued to have complete injuries. C subtype injuries all converted to AIS incomplete injuries on follow-up (P = 0.04). IMLL was found to be significantly different compared across multiple morphologic subtypes. Surgical management for each morphology subtype was reported. The AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System successfully associated injury morphology with IMLL along with admission and long-term neurologic function and recovery.