title: Five-level noncontiguous spinal injuries of cervical region: report of a case and literature review.
abstract: The incidence of multiple noncontiguous spinal injuries (MNSI) in the cervical spine is rare but has catastrophic consequences. The patient in this report was a 34-year-old woman with five-level cervical MNSI. CT and MRI showed that injuries included atlantoaxial instability, burst fracture of C6, dislocation of C6/7, rupture of the intervertebal disc or ligamentous complex, and irreversible cord damage. The mechanism for this case was a combined pattern of hyperflexion, compression, and hyperextension injuries. A review of the literature revealed that this case is the first report in the literature of a vehicle related accident causing five-level noncontiguous injuries of the cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China. honggangguo2000@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Hong-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xin-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Feng-Tan
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shi-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed