J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1986 Mar;15(1):167-170.

Removal of Huge Cervical Intraspinal Fragment Demonstrated Only by CT Scan

• Park CW
• Oh SJ
• Jho HD
• Yoo YR
• Kim NK
• Chung HY

Abstract

Cervical traction has been widely used as an essential method for the treatment of cervical fracture-dislocation. This report, however, was a case in which hazardous effect of traction due to unreduced huge fragment was demonstrated only by cervical CT scan. Surprisingly plain X-rays could not demonstrated this condition. It was apparent that skeletal traction resulted in further injury of the spinal cord. Surgical removal of unreduced huge fragment was accomplished completely and interbody fusion was followed. Postoperative CT findings showed complete removal of fragment and decompression of the spinal cord as well as gratifying interbody fusion. CT scanning is imperative to evaluate the cervical fracture-dislocation and blind skeletal traction may be hazardous.

Keyword

Cervical Traction; Spinal Cord Injury; CT scan; Cervical Fracture-Dislocation

MeSH Terms

Decompression
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
Traction