BACKGROUND The most common site of fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the cervical spine, especially the lower cervical spine and cervicothoracic junction. The optimal treatment for cervical spine fractures secondary to AS is controversial. This study aimed to explore the effects of posterior pedicle screw fixation alone on fractures of the lower cervical spine in patient...

STANDARDS A three-view cervical spine series (anteroposterior, lateral, and odontoid views) is recommended for radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine in patients who are symptomatic after traumatic injury. This should be supplemented with computed tomography (CT) to further define areas that are suspicious or not well visualized on the plain cervical x-rays. GUIDELINES There is insuffi...

DIAGNOSTIC STANDARDS There is insufficient evidence to support diagnostic standards. GUIDELINES In children who have experienced trauma and are alert, conversant, have no neurological deficit, no midline cervical tenderness, and no painful distracting injury, and are not intoxicated, cervical spine x-rays are not necessary to exclude cervical spine injury and are not recommended. In childr...

Injuries to the cervical spine occur in approximately 4% of trauma patients, including 8% of patientswho are unconscious or obtunded, and 3% of alert trauma presentations. Failure in detecting cervical spine injury in an efficient and timely manner in the acute clinical setting can result in catastrophic consequences involving permanent neurologic sequelae. As a result, clinical assessment and ...

Pain in the thoracic region of the spine is a common complaint, which can be as disabling as cervical and lumbar pain (Edmonston & Singer 1997). There are reports in the literature of presentations involving acute cervical ‘locked facet joints’ as well as acute lumbar ‘locked facet joints’ (Maitland 1978; Exelby 2001). Although there are a multitude of conditions that can arise from the thoraci...

Cervical spine injuries can be disastrous. The treatment begins at the accident scene by obtaining an appropriate history, physical examination, and evaluation of the mechanics of the accident. Emergency medical stabilization takes precedence, but the cervical spine should be stabilized until an injury in this area is ruled out. If the patient has suffered a head injury or is violent, cervical ...

Ossification of ligamentum flavum (LF) is a pathological condition that causes neurological symptoms and usually occurs in the thoracic spine and less frequently in the cervical spine. Symptomatology usually involves occipital headache in the early stage, neck pain and later sensory disturbances of upper and lower extremities, gait disturbance, restricted cervical movement and tetraparesis. Her...

A 59 year old man was found collapsed and unconscious, tracheal intubation was performed without immobilisation of the cervical spine. Examination revealed signs of spinal cord transection with quadraplegia and a lateral cervical spine radiograph showed a displaced fracture of the odontoid peg. This case reinforces the importance of appropriate cervical spine management in all victims of trauma...