Currently available classification systems for lower cervical spine injuries. Part 1. Overview of the most popular scales and classifications

This article provides a detailed illustrated description of currently available classification and scoring systems for lower cervical spine injuries (including Allen–Fergusson, J. Harris et al., C. Argenson et al., and AOSpine classifications, Subaxial Injury Classification System and Cervical Spine Injury Severity Score). The present review primarily aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each classification system.

1. Böhler L. The treatment of fractures. A translation of “Technik der Knochenbruchbehandlung im Frieden und im Kriege” by M.E. Steinberg. Vienna, Austria: Wilhelm Maudrich, 1929.

2. Holdsworth F. Fractures, dislocations, and fracture-dislocations of the spine. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1970;52(8):1534–51. PMID: 5483077.

3. Chhabra H.S., Kaul R., Kanagaraju V. Do we have an ideal classification system for thoracolumbar and subaxial cervical spine injuries: what is the expert’s perspective? Spinal Cord 2015;53(1):42–8. DOI: 10.1038/sc.2014.194. PMID: 25384403.

4. Walters B.C., Hadley M.N., Hurlbert R.J. et al. Guidelines for the management of acute cervical spine and spinal cord injuries: 2013 update. Neurosurgery 2013;60 Suppl 1:82–91. DOI: 10.1227/01.neu.0000430319.32247.7f. PMID: 23839357.

5. Krylov V.V., Grin’ A.A., Lutsik A.A. et al. A protocol recommended for treating acute complicated and uncomplicated spinal injuries in adult patients (Association of Neurosurgeons of Russia). Part 1. Zhurnal “Voprosy neirokhirurgii im. N.N. Burdenko” = Problems of Neurosurgery n. a. N.N. Burdenko 2014;78(6);60–7. (In Russ.)

6. Allen B.L. Jr, Ferguson R.L., Lehmann T.R., O’Brien R.P. A mechanistic classification of closed, indirect fractures and dislocations of the lower cervical spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1982;7(1):1–27. PMID: 7071658.

7. Harris J.H. Jr, Edeiken-Monroe B., Kopaniky D.R. A practical classification of acute cervical spine injuries. Orthop Clin North Am 1986;17(1):15–30. PMID: 3511428.

8. Argenson C., de Peretti F., Ghabris A. et al. Classification of lower cervical spine injuries. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 1997;7(4);215-229.

9. Vaccaro A.R., Koerner J.D., Radcliff K.E. et al. AOSpine subaxial cervical spine injury classification system. Eur Spine J 2016;25(7):2173–84. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-015-3831-3. PMID: 25716661.

10. Vaccaro A.R., Hulbert R.J., Patel A.A. et al. The subaxial cervical spine injury classification system: a novel approach to recognize the importance of morphology, neurology, and integrity of the disco-ligamentous complex. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2007;32(21):2365–74. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181557b92. PMID: 17906580.

11. Moore T., Vaccaro A.R., Anderson P. Classification of lower cervical spine injuries. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2006;31(11 Suppl):S37–43. DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000217942.93428.f7. PMID: 16685235.

12. Krylov V.V., Grin’ A.A., Kajkov A.K. et al. Modern principles in surgery of injuries and diseases

13. of the spine. Zhurnal im. N.V. Sklifosovskogo “Neotlozhnaya medicinskaya pomoshch” = Journal n. a. N.V. Sklifosovsky “Emergency medical care”. 2014;(4):36–41. (In Russ.)