Cervical spine fracture-dislocations in children: literature review and clinical case report

Main Article Content

Juan Manuel Velasco Canziani
Santiago Saprizza
Nicolás Galli
Natalia Otero
Fernando García

Abstract

Fracture-dislocations are a rare presentation, but their knowledge is critical in terms of diagnosis, treatment and potential sequelae. We report a literature review on cervical spine fracture-dislocations in children and a case of a 10-year-old girl who sustained a C3-C4 fracture-dislocation. Patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation at C3-C4, and a 2-year follow-up.
Level of Evidence: IV

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Article Details

How to Cite
Velasco Canziani, J. M., Saprizza, S., Galli, N., Otero, N., & García, F. (2020). Cervical spine fracture-dislocations in children: literature review and clinical case report. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 85(3), 270-282. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2020.85.3.1007
Section
Case Presentations
Author Biographies

Juan Manuel Velasco Canziani, CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Santiago Saprizza, CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Nicolás Galli, CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Natalia Otero, CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

Fernando García, CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

CE.DEF.CO. Centro de Deformidades de Columna (Montevideo, Uruguay)

References

1. Bollini G, Jove JL, Cottalorda J. Spinal trauma in children. En: Holtzman RNN, McCormick PC, Farcy J-PC. Spinal
instability. New York, NY: Springer Verlag New York Inc.; 1993: 237-54.

2. Caffey J. The whiplash shaken infant syndrome: manual shaking by the extremities with whiplash-induced
intracranial and intraocular bleedings, linked with residual permanent brain damage and mental retardation.
Pediatrics 1974;54(4):396-403. PMID: 4416579

3. Dickman CA, Douglas RA, Sonntag VKH. Occipito-cervical fusion: posterior stabilization of the craniovertebral
junction and upper cervical spine. BNI Q 1990;6(2):2-14.

4. Grabb PA, Pang D. Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of spinal cord injury without radiographic
abnormality in children. Neurosurgery 1994;35(3):406-14. https://doi.org/10.1227/00006123-199409000-00007

5. Nitecki S, Moir CR. Predictive factors of the outcome of traumatic cervical spine fracture in children. J Pediatr Surg 1994;29(11):1409-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3468(94)90131-7

6. Arlet V, Rigault P, Padovani JP, Finidori G, Touzet, P, Janklievicz P. Instability and misdiagnosed or neglected
dislocations of the upper cervical spine in children. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 1992;78(5):300-11.
[En francés] PMID: 1289981

7. Bailey DK. The normal cervical spine in infants and children. Radiology 1952;59(5):712-9.
https://doi.org/10.1148/59.5.712

8. Cattell HS, Filtzer DL. Pseudosubluxation and other normal variation in the cervical spine in children. A study of
one hundred and sixty children. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1965;47(7):1295-309. PMID: 5837630

9. Netter RH. The CIBA collection of medical illustration, Vol. 8 Musculo-skeletal system, part 1. Anatomy,
physiology and metabolics disorders. Summit, NJ: CIBA-Geygi; 1987.

10. Sherk HH, Schut L, Lane JM. Fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine in children. Orthop Clin North Am
1976;7(3):593-604. PMID: 958685

11. Price AE. Unique aspects of pediatric spine injuries. En: Errico TJ, Baver RD, Waugh T. Spinal trauma.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Company; 1991:581-625.

12. Vigouroux RP, Baurand C, Choux M, Pellet W, Guillermain P. Les traumatismes dus rachis cervical chez l’enfant. Neurochirurgie 1968;14(6):689-702. [En francés] PMID: 5688169

13. Von Torklus D, Gehle W. The upper cervical spine. Regional anatomy, pathology and traumatology. En: Verlag GT (ed.). A systemic radiological atlas and textbook. New York: Grune & Stratton; 1972:2-91.

14. Nypaver M, Treolar D. Neutral cervical spine positioning in children. Ann Emerg Med 1994;23(2):208-11.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0196-0644(94)70032-x

15. Sontag VK, Dickman CA. Operative management of occipito cervical and atlantoaxial instability. En: Holtzman
RNN, Mccormick PC, Farcy JP (eds.). Spinal instability. Springer Verlag; 1993:255-94.

16. Brockmeyer D, Apfelbaum R, Tippets R, Walker M, Carey L. Pediatric cervical spine instrumentation using screw fixation. Pediatr Neurosurg 1995;22(3):147-57. https://doi.org/10.1159/000120893

17. Bucholz RD, Cheung KC. Halo vest versus spinal fusion for cervical injuries: evidence for an outcome study.
J Neurosurg 1989;70(6):884-92. https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1989.70.6.0884