J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2001 Jun;8(2):143-147. 10.4184/jkss.2001.8.2.143.

Injury of Posterior Ligament Complex with Cervical Spine Fracture

• Chung SS
• Lee CS
• Jung HW
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2097754
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2001.8.2.143

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To define the clinical and radiological characteristics of the patients with injury of the posterior ligament complex of the cervical spine using MR imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty patients with acute cervical spine fracture who underwent surgery were examined with MR imaging and plain radiography. Twenty-five patients underwent posterior fusion. The MR findings were correlated with surgical findings, clinical findings, and plain radiographs.
RESULTS
Posterior ligament complex injury was detected in 75% (n=30) of all patients. Of the 20 patients with distractive-flexion injury, 90%(n=18) had posterior ligament complex injury (p<0.05). Of the 15 patients with compressive-flexion injury, 73% (n=11) had ligament injury. Of the 4 patients with vertical compression injury, 1 patient (25%) showed ligament injury. One patient with distractive-extension injury did not show ligament injury. Of the 23 patients with complete spinal cord injury, 96% (n=22) showed ligament tear (p<0.05). Of the 17 patients without complete cord injury (15 incomplete injury, 2 no cord injury), 47% (n=8) had ligament injury. Surgical findings were well correlated with MR imaging in patients who underwent posterior surgery (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Injury of the posterior ligament complex in patients with cervical spine fracture was most common in patients with distractive-flexion injury and was more frequent with complete cord injury. MR imaging could reliably reveal such injuries.

Keyword

Cervical spine; Fracture; Posterior ligament complex; MRI

MeSH Terms

Humans
Ligaments*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Radiography
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine*
Tears

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