title: Severe hyperflexion sprains of the lower cervical spine in adults.
abstract: Severe sprains of the cervical spine result from a traumatic rupture of the intervertebral disc and ligaments. Although rare, these lesions may lead to a significant kyphotic deformity if they are not surgically treated. The treatment of such a kyphotic deformity may consist of surgical fixation of the lesion through either an anterior or posterior approach. A retrospective study has been done examining 44 severe cervical sprains in 41 patients surgically treated through a posterior approach, using Roy-Camille plates. With an average followup of 29 months (range, 6-60 months), 73% of the patients recovered a normal range of spinal motion, with either moderate or no pain. No neurologic or vascular complications directly attributable to posterior plating and no secondary kyphosis were observed. A moderate sagittal displacement with kyphotic angulation occurred above the fusion in five patients. Posterior screw plate fixation appears to be a safe and effective treatment for severe hyperflexion sprain of the lower cervical spine in the adult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laporte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laville
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lazennec
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rolland
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramare
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saillant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome