Occult cervical spine fracture in an ambulatory patients.
Significant injury to the cervical spine many not be obvious in patients whose mental status is decreased. We present the case of a fully conscious, ambulatory patient with no complaint of neck pain and only mild tenderness on examination who nevertheless had sustained an unstable fracture-dislocation of the cervical spine. Following surgery, the patient recovered without permanent neurologic sequelae. Criteria are suggested for ordering radiographic studies of the cervical spine for victims of trauma.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes; D011859:Radiography; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy