title: Controversies in the treatment of cervical spine dislocations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical spine dislocations represent an area of great controversy among spine surgeons.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review is to present the specific areas of controversy and to provide a review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of cervical spine dislocation is presented to illustrate the major controversies related to the treatment of cervical spine dislocations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature is presented regarding the major controversial aspects of the treatment of cervical spine dislocations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major areas of controversy include the choice of imaging, closed versus open reduction and surgical approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guidelines for the management of cervical spine dislocations are presented based on evidence-based medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Kaufmann Building, Suite 1010, 3471 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. joonyunglee@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joon Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nassr
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eck
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy