Magnetic Resonance Evaluation of the Intervertebral Disc, Spinal Ligaments, and Spinal Cord Before and After Closed Traction Reduction of Cervical Spine Dislocations

Abstract

The process of closed traction reduction appears to increase the incidence of intervertebral disc herniations. The relation of these findings, however, to the neurologic safety of awake closed traction reduction remain unclear.

Posterior longitudinal ligament status in cervical spine bilateral facet dislocations

“…In this report, however, one case of bilateral facet dislocation was noted with an intact posterior longitudinal ligament on MRI. Similarly, another study [13] which used MRI to examine nine subjects with bilateral facet dislocation noted an intact anterior longitudinal ligament in two, and an intact posterior longitudinal ligament in three of the subjects. This investigation was an MRI study without correlation to surgical findings.…”

Fracture dislocations of the cervical spine: a review of 106 conservatively and operatively treated patients

“…Neurological deterioration, due to posteriorly herniated disc material causing medullary impingement at the moment of vertebral reduction, is a rare [10,20], but feared, complication. With the evolution of MRI, herniated disc material can be identified and complications of this kind avoided by choosing anterior surgery.…”

Perfil do cirurgião de coluna brasileiro

“…Some authors 36 have suggested that with the exception of patients with a neurologic deficit, MRI is not useful for finding unstable injuries in the spines of patients that are conscious or already have a normal tomography. However, there are data in the literature 37,38 reporting additional injuries that radiographs and CT scans are not able to demonstrate, so most surgeons choose to request MRI in the presence of a cervical dislocation without neurological deficit.…”