Cervical spondylolysis: three cases and a review of the current literature.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a rare case of cervical spondylolysis with an adjacent secondary dysplastic change, and to review the current literature regarding cervical spondylolysis.


BACKGROUND
Three patients presented with minor trauma history and radiographical C6 level spondylolysis.


METHODS
Cervical spines were analyzed with plain radiography, multidetector computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.


RESULTS
In all 3 patients, plain radiographs revealed a bilateral cleft of the C6 articular mass. The patients presented with long-term minimal discomfort of the posterior neck. In 2 patients, a trauma event increased the pain and produced neurologic deficits. In addition, an adjacent dysplastic change was present on imaging studying in 2 of the patients, 1 of whom also presented with a cord signal change above the spondylolytic level.


CONCLUSIONS
Early diagnosis and appropriate management of cases of spondylolysis are important. In addition, surgical plans for cervical spondylolysis should be considered if the adjacent levels are unstable or fragile.
Ahn
Poong Gee
PG
Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoon
Do Heum
DH
Shin
Hyun Chul
HC
Kim
Keung Nyun
KN
Yi
Seong
S
Lee
Dong Yup
DY
Yang
Moon Sul
MS
Ha
Yoon
Y
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery