Clinical algorithm for preventing missed diagnoses of occult cervical spine instability after acute trauma: A case report

BACKGROUND Missed or delayed diagnosis of cervical spine instability after acute trauma can have catastrophic consequences for the patient,resulting in severe neurological impairment.Currently,however,there is no consensus on the optimal strategy for diagnosing occult cervical spine instability.Thus,we present a case of occult cervical spine instability and provide a clinical algorithm to aid physicians in diagnosing occult instability of the cervical spine.CASE SUMMARY A 57-year-old man presented with cervical spine pain and inability to stand following a serious fall from a height of 2 m.No obvious vertebral fracture or dislocation was found at the time on standard lateral X-ray,computed tomography,and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Subsequently,the initial surgical plan was unilateral open-door laminoplasty(C3-7)with alternative levels of centerpiece mini-plate fixation(C3,5,and 7).However,the intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopic X-rays revealed significantly increased intervertebral space at C5-6,indicating instability at this level that was previously unrecognized on preoperative imaging.We finally performed lateral mass fixation and fusion at the C5-6 level.Looking back at the preoperative images,we found that the preoperative T2 MRI showed non-obvious high signal intensity at the C5-6 intervertebral disc and posterior interspinous ligament.CONCLUSION MRI of cervical spine trauma patients should be carefully reviewed to detect disco-ligamentous injury,which will lead to further cervical spine instability.In patients with highly suspected cervical spine instability indicated on MRI,lateral X-ray under traction or after anesthesia and muscle relaxation needs to be performed to avoid missed diagnoses of occult cervical instability.

Dynamic Radiographic Analysis of Sympathetic Cervical Spondylosis Instability

Objective To investigate the correlation between subaxial cervical spine instability and cervical spondylotic sympathetic symptoms as well as the difference of cervical spondylotic subaxial instability between male and female patients. Methods We analyzed retrospectively 318 surgical cases of cervical spondylosis treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between July 2003 and December 2007. All cases were divided into group A without sympathetic symptoms (n=284) and group B with sympathetic symptoms (n=34). Angular and horizontal translation values between two adjacent vertebral bodies from C2 to C7 were measured separately on hyperflexion and hyperextension lateral cervical spine radiographs. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the correlation between subaxial cervical instability and sympathetic symptoms. Intragroup correlation between patient gender and subaxial cervical instability was also evaluated. Results Subaxial instability incidences in groups A and B were 21.8% (62/284) and 55.9% (19/34), respectively. Statistical analysis indicated a definite correlation between subaxial cervical instability and sympathetic symptoms (P=0.000). Among patients without sympathetic symptoms, subaxial instability incidences were 21.4% (37/173) in males and 22.5% (25/111) in females, respectively (P=0.883). While among patients with sympathetic symptoms, subaxial instability incidences were 27.3% (3/11) in males and 69.6% (16/23) in females, respectively, indicating significant difference (P=0.030). Subaxial instability was most commonly seen at C4-C5 intervertebral space in sympathetic cervical spondylosis patients. Conclusions High correlation exists between subaxial cervical spine instability and cervical spondylotic sympathetic symptoms, especially in female patients. Hyperextension and hyperflexion radiographs of cervical spine are important to assess sympathetic cervical spondylotic subaxial instability.