Case Study: Cervical Trauma
A 66 yr old male presented to the emergency room with a history of injury due to a 10 feet fall from the roof where he was working. He was incubated on the way to the hospital. He was found to be moving his upper extremities grossly but there was no movement of his lower extremities.
On examination he was able to move shoulder and elbow and was found to have an incomplete neurological deficit in his upper and lower extremity.
An urgent CT scan was performed which showed Cervical Spine injury with unilateral facet dislocation of C6-7 on the right side with fracture of the pedicle along with sublxation of C6 over C7 vertebra.
The facet dislocation was causing compression of the spinal cord at the neck level and the patient had an incomplete neurological deficit. He needed urgent surgery to remove the compression of the spinal cord.
He was taken to the operating room immediately where the dislocation was reduced. Due to the dislocation, the capsule and the disc of the same level was damaged, and the spine was unstable.
To regain the stability back the spine was fused from the front as well as from the back using plate, screw and rods. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) C6-7 with Posterior Spinal Fusion C5-T2 was performed.
Patient was sent to a rehab facility where he made significant recovery over a span of a few months.
At 1 year he was able to use his both upper extremity and had started ambulating with the use of walker.
I am Vedant Vaksha, Fellowship trained Spine, Sports and Arthroscopic Surgeon at Complete Orthopedics. I take care of patients with ailments of the neck, back, shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle. I personally approve this content and have written most of it myself.
Please take a look at my profile page and don't hesitate to come in and talk.
