Management of Cervical Spine Injuries without Fracture or Dislocation

ABSTRACT

The authors analized the 98 cases of cervical spine injuries without fracture or dislocation by hyperflexion/hyperextension of the neck. The peak incidence of the age was in the second to fourth decades(69.4%). There was a male preponderance with a sex ratio of. 1.8 1. Sources of trauma were motor vehicle accident, object falling on and motorcycle accident in the order of frequency. The common mechanisms of injury were flexion-extension, extension and flexion injury in the order of frequency. There were 10 cases of cervical cord injury without fracture or dislocation and operative management was given in 6 cases of them. The most common preexisting disease was congenital cervical stenosis. Surgical modality such as laminectomy, laminoplasty and anterior decompressive procedure made them improved. The authors discuss the mechanism of injury and surgical management of the patients with cervical cord injury in the absence of concomittent fracture or dislocation.