title: Cervical spondylolysis: three cases and a review of the current literature.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Poong Gee
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Do Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyun Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Keung Nyun
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Dong Yup
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon Sul
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: 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