Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-960706
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Complete Hyperextension Fracture-Dislocation of the Lower Cervical Spine without Spinal Cord Deficit: A Case Report
Publication History
Publication Date:
12 September 2007 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/osteotrauma/20070203/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2007-960706-1.jpg)
Abstract
An unusual case of complete hyperextension fracture-dislocation of C 6 on C 7 with no spinal cord deficit in a 50-year-old man is reported. Dissociation between the fractured posterior arch, remaining in good alignment, and the anteriorly displaced vertebral body, with anterior-posterior widening of the spinal canal, prevented spinal cord damage. Posterior open reduction and internal fixation with plates screwed to the articular masses resulted in anatomic and stable reposition of the displacements. One year after the injury, the patient was symptom-free, with almost full neck mobility and neurologically normal and CT scans showed a normal spinal canal.
Key words
facture-dislocation - lower cervical spine - hyperextension injury - cervical spine
References
- 1 Aebi M K, Marchesi D. Treatment of cervical spine injuries with anterior plating. Spine. 1991; 16 38-45
- 2 Allen B L, 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. 1982; 7 1-27
- 3 Baker R P, Grubb R L. Complete fracture-dislocation of cervical spine without permanent neurologic sequelae. J Neurosurg. 1983; 58 760-762
- 4 Barquet A, Masliah R, Dubra A. et al . Posterior internal fixation with Roy-Camille plates in unstable injuries of the lower cervical spine. Osteo Int. 1995; 2 99-103
- 5 Barquet A, Pereyra D. An unusual extension injury to the cervical spine. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1988; 70 1393-1395
- 6 Bhatia S, Sharma B S, Mathuriya S N, Pathak A, Khosla V K. Complete dislocation with burst fracture of the lower cervical spine. Paraplegia. 1993; 31 542-544
- 7 Eismont F J, Arena M J, Green B A. Extrusion of an intervertebral disc associated with traumatic subluxation or dislocation of cervical facets. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1991; 73 1555-1560
- 8 Forsyth H F. Extension injuries of the cervical spine. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1964; 46 1792-1797
- 9 Garvey T A, Eismont F J, Roberti L J. Anterior decompression, structural bone grafting, and Caspar plate stabilization for unstable cervical spine fractures and / or dislocations. Spine. 1992; 17 (Suppl 10) S 431-S 435
- 10 Harris J H, Yeakley J W. Hyperextension-dislocation of the cervical spine. Ligament injuries demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. J Bone Joint Surg [Br]. 1992; 74 567-570
- 11 Jenis L G, Dunn E J, Teebagy A K. Complete vertebral fracture / dislocation of the cervical spine with minimal neurologic deficit. J Orthop Trauma. 1996; 10 123-127
- 12 Levine A M, Mazel C, Roy-Camille R. Management of fracture separations of the articular mass using posterior cervical plating. Spine. 1992 (Suppl 10); 17 S 447-S 454
- 13 Nazarian S, Louis R P. Posterior internal fixation with screw plates in traumatic lesions of the cervical spine. Spine. 1991; 16 64-71
- 14 Pitman M I, Pitman C A, Greenberg I M. Complete dislocation of the cervical spine without neurological deficit. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1977; 59 134-135
- 15 Ripa D R, Kowall M G, Meyer P R. et al . Series of ninety-two traumatic cervical spine injuries stabilized with anterior ASIF plate fusion technique. Spine. 1991; 16 46-55
- 16 Roy-Camille R, Saillant G, Laville C. et al . Treatment of lower cervical spine injuries - C 3 to C 7. Spine. 1992; 17 442-446
- 17 Sapkas G S, Stathakkopoulos D P, Chronopoulos E, Papadakis S. Neglected complete fracture-dislocation at the cervico-thoracic level without neurological deficit. Injury. 1998; 29 385-389
- 18 Tribus C B. Cervical disk herniation in association with traumatic facet dislocation. Techniques in Orthopaedics. 1994; 9 5-7
Dr. A. Barquet
Av. Sarmiento 2369, Apto. 301
11300 Montevideo
Uruguay
Email: antbar@adinet.com.uy