Pathology

Cervical Anatomy and Pathology - C5-C6 Fracture

C5-C6 Fracture Dislocation 63 year old male

Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Professor, Clinical and Applied Anatomy and Pathology
Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala, Sweden

Tetraplegic C5-C6 fracture dislocation 63-year old male
This 63–year old male had been tetraplegic after a traffic accident due to a C5–C6 fracture–dislocation. He was operated on 1973 with posterior wiring and bone grafting (without anterior decompression) to facilitate early rehabilitation. Two weeks later he succumbed to a cardiovascular failure. This sagittal closeup section shows sclerosis of the endplates at the fracture level and marked compression of the lateral portion of the spinal cord. Note the intramedullary hematoma. Spinal cord compression is caused anteriorly by a broken spondylosis ridge that is hinged in periosteum and peripheral annulus fibrosus. Posteriorly, the ruptured ligamentum flavum is curled up under the lamina, further compressing the cord. Behind the lamina the wound hematoma and a bone graft are seen. The goal of this operation was to facilitate early mobilization; corpectomy or hemivertebrectomy should have been considered in a patient with an incomplete neurological deficit.

©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
Reproduction without permission is prohibited
http://www.akademiska.se/
Last Updated: 07/29/2004
What is This?
Related Articles on SpineUniverse
To help you navigate through this wealth of information, the Editorial Board of SpineUniverse presents links to "Related Articles" at the end of each article . In addition, to help you find additional information you need, we encourage you to use the "Search" tool located at the top of each page.

Related Articles on this Topic