During physiological motion, cervical spine ligaments limit the range of motion of the neck. However, the integrity of these ligaments can be compromised under excessive loading, specifically during vehicle crash scenarios, which is the leading cause of upper cervical spine injury [1]. Techniques to predict injury, such as the use of finite element models, require accurate mechanical properties...

Study Design Case series. Objective We report the unusual occurrence of vertebral artery injury (VAI) during routine posterior exposure of the cervical spine. The importance of preoperative planning to identify the course of the bilateral vertebral arteries during routine posterior cervical spine surgery is emphasized. Methods VAI is a rare but potentially devastating complication of cervical s...

OBJECTIVE To discuss the case of a patient who received upper cervical chiropractic care after trauma-induced arcual kyphosis in the cervical spine. A practical application of conservative management for posttrauma cervical spine injury in the private office setting is described. CLINICAL FEATURES A 17-year-old female patient suffered an unstable C3/C4 motor segment after a lateral-impact mot...

Introduction: Cervical spine abnormalities can affect the ear vessels and or nerves with different mechanisms. Ear dysfunctions following cervical spine injuries can be manifested as hearing loss, vertigo, or tinnitus. Usually, cervical spine injuries can cause pain and Range of Motion (ROM) limitation. The major objective of this study was to determine which cervical ROM limitation was accompa...

Whiplash injury is a relatively common occurrence, but its mechanism and optimal treatment remain poorly understood. It is estimated that the incidence of whiplash injury is approximately 4 per 1,000 persons. The most common radiographic findings include either preexisting degenerative changes or a slight flattening of the normal lordotic curvature of the cervical spine. Computed tomography and...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity of plain radiographs in identifying bony or ligamentous cervical spine injury in children. METHODS We identified a retrospective cohort of children younger than 16 years with blunt trauma-related bony or ligamentous cervical spine injury evaluated between 2000 and 2004 at 1 of 17 hospitals participating in the Pediatric Eme...

OBJECTIVE To provide a foundation of knowledge concerning the functional anatomy, kinematic response, and mechanisms involved in axial-compression cervical spine injury as they relate to sport injury. DATA SOURCES We conducted literature searches through the Index Medicus, SPORT Discus, and PubMed databases and the Library of Congress from 1975-2003 using the key phrases cervical spine injury...

PURPOSE To review the impact of concomitant cervical spine injury on the management of facial fractures in a tertiary care institution via a retrospective chart review. PATIENTS AND METHODS Within the past 10 years, 1,750 consecutive patients presented to our institution with facial fractures. Thirty-two had concomitant cervical spine injury. Five were transferred or died before treatment. Th...