Retropulsion of intervertebral discs associated with traumatic hyperextension of the cervical spine and absence of vertebral fracture: an uncommon mechanism of spinal cord injury.
METHODS
Case report of a 68-year-old male who sustained cervical trauma following a bodysurfing accident.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the pathology of a relatively uncommon mechanism of injury involving extradural cord compression associated with traumatic disc protrusion and herniation, following a cervical hyperextension injury in which there was no vertebral fracture or residual subluxation.


METHODS
Department of Neuropathology, Royal Perth Hospital, West Australia.


METHODS
Postmortem pathology report.


RESULTS
Evidence of multiple ruptures of anterior longitudinal ligament with posterior intervertebral disc herniation and three discrete foci of central cord hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
Observations are consistent with cervical extension injury and an injury vector that involves intense axial loading sufficient to cause multiple disc failures, disc herniation and retropulsion leading to extradural disc compression and cord hemorrhage.
Hayes
K C
KC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Askes
H K
HK
Kakulas
B A
BA
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*