A variant of Jefferson like fracture at C7 vertebrae without any sensory deficit in a traumatic sub-axial cervical spondylolisthesis

Abstract

The management of cervical sub axial spondylolisthesis is a challenging task for all spinal care specialists because there is a lack of literature on the disease's diverse clinical presentations. Sub axial spondylolisthesis is a freak injury with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Particularly decisionmaking concerning the monitoring of such patients is difficult in a secondary trauma centre. The spinal column is a dynamic system that protects nervous innervation throughout the body while also enabling the head and neck to move freely. Spinal cord fractures are a major cause of mobility and mortality in trauma patients and a skeletal fracture is linked to 56% of cervical spinal cord traumas. Cervical spines fractures are classified based on the degree involved and are traditionally divided into three groups: C1, C2 and sub-axial spine (C3 to C7). Severe spinal cord injury and quadriparesis are commonly associated with trauma-related high-grade spondylolisthesis in the sub axial cervical spine. In rare circumstances, such pathology has resulted in minimal to no neurological deficits. We present a case of 45-year-old male presented with alleged history of fall from bike and is associated with history of injury over neck and over head with no other significant clinical complaints.