title: Management of traumatic c6-7 spondyloptosis with cord compression.
abstract: A case of total spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at C6-7 level with cord compression is described in a 51-year-old male. Because the bodies of C6 and 7 were tightly locked together, cervical traction failed. Then the patient was operated on by a posterior approach. Posterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C4-5 lateral mass and C7-T1 pedicle screw fixation and rod instrumentation with bridging both C4-5's rods to the C7-T1's extended ones. After C6 total laminectomy and foraminotomy, the C6 body was returned to its proper position. Secondly, anterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C6-7 discectomy with a screw-plate system. A postoperative lateral plain radiograph showed good realignment. In this case, we report the clinical presentation and discuss the surgical modalities of C6-7 total spondyloptosis and the failed close reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Man-Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Jean
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Anterior stabilization; Posterior stablilization; Spondyloptosis