A case report of an unstable cervical spine fracture: parallels to the thoracolumbar chance fracture.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a cervical spine fracture similar in appearance to a Chance fracture and to discuss its radiographic appearance.


METHODS
A 40-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for neck pain and weakness in both arms after a motor vehicle accident. Neck flexion worsened the weakness in her upper extremities, her radiating neck pain, and upper extremity pain. A transverse fracture through the spinous process of C6 and narrowed C6 disk space was noted on plain film radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were consistent with a large midline extruded disk herniation at the C6-7 level with marked extrinsic compression on the cervical cord in addition to the fracture. These findings were similar to a lumbar spine Chance fracture.


RESULTS
The patient was referred for surgical consultation, and discectomy with fusion of C6-7 was performed. After the surgery, the upper extremity pain and weakness subsided. Postsurgical care included chiropractic adjustments with a handheld spring-loaded adjusting instrument and physiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The radiographic features of an unusual cervical spine fracture with the characteristics of a Chance-type fracture are discussed.
Rowell
Robert M
RM
Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, Iowa 52722, USA. rowell_r@palmer.edu
Stites
John
J
Stone-Hall
Karen
K
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed