J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2006 Sep;13(3):215-218. 10.4184/jkss.2006.13.3.215.

Flexion-distraction Injury in Cervico-thoracic Junction: A Case Report

• Park YS
• Kim KW
• Park KC

• KMID: 2209645
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2006.13.3.215

Abstract

Injuries at the cervico-thoracic junction can be difficult to diagnose (with an incidence as high as 9% of all spinal injuries) and to stabilize, because of anatomic complexities. We report a case with that was treated with a lateral mass screw and transpedicular screw-rod fixation for a flexion-distraction injury at the cervico-thoracic junction and we present a review of the literature.

Keyword

Cervico-thoracic junction; Flexion-distraction injury

MeSH Terms

Incidence

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A-C) Anterior-posterior roentgenogram of cervico-thoracic spine shows abnormal alignment of spinous process (A). CT scan shows anterior column collapse at T4,5 ver-tebral bodies and multiple spinous process fractures at C6 to T4 with widening of inter-laminar space between T1-2 and T3-4 (B). MRI shows no cord compressive lesion but interspinous ligament injury between C6 and T4 vertebra (C). It is diagnosed flexion dis-traction injury in cervico-thoracic junction

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  Fig. 2. Postoperative 3D-CT scan shows good alignment of cervico-thoracic spines with good position of lateral mass screws at cervical spines and pedicle screws at thoracic spines.

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  Fig. 3. With one year follow up, postoperative roentgenogram shows no breakage of instrument and change in alignment of cervico-thoracic spine.

Reference

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