J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2014 May;55(5):289-292. 10.3340/jkns.2014.55.5.289.

Management of Traumatic C6-7 Spondyloptosis with Cord Compression

• Choi MK
• Jo DJ
• Kim MK
• Kim TS

• KMID: 2018037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2014.55.5.289

Abstract

A case of total spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at C6-7 level with cord compression is described in a 51-year-old male. Because the bodies of C6 and 7 were tightly locked together, cervical traction failed. Then the patient was operated on by a posterior approach. Posterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C4-5 lateral mass and C7-T1 pedicle screw fixation and rod instrumentation with bridging both C4-5's rods to the C7-T1's extended ones. After C6 total laminectomy and foraminotomy, the C6 body was returned to its proper position. Secondly, anterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C6-7 discectomy with a screw-plate system. A postoperative lateral plain radiograph showed good realignment. In this case, we report the clinical presentation and discuss the surgical modalities of C6-7 total spondyloptosis and the failed close reduction.

Keyword

Spondyloptosis; Anterior stabilization; Posterior stablilization

MeSH Terms

Diskectomy
Foraminotomy
Humans
Laminectomy
Male
Middle Aged
Spine
Traction

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A : Saggital computed tomography imaging reveals spondyloptosis at the C6-7 level. B : The vertebrae are locked to each other at axial view.

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  Fig. 2 Axial T2-weighted (A), saggital T2-weighted (B) magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical reveals cord dis-placement and signal change, and high signal intensity of the adjacent tissues.

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  Fig. 3 The posterior stabilization was performed from C4 to T1 by a C4-5 lateral mass and C7-T1 pedicle screw fixation and rod instrumentation with posterior decompression (A) and autologous bone fusion (B).

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  Fig. 4 Post-operative plain radiograph lateral view (A) and 3D CT image (B) of the cervical shows good realignment and anterior and posterior stabilization.

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