Delayed diagnosis of fractured anterior arch of the atlas in a young child.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
28073868
Abstract
A 2-year-old girl fell off a bunk bed onto a parquet floor. She immediately reported neck pain and presented with muscle spasm and limited motion of the cervical spine (C-spine). Plain X-rays of the C-spine showed no osseous lesion. Owing to persisting pain and limited motion in the neck, MRI of the C-spine was obtained which revealed intact ligaments and cervical spinal cord, as well as soft tissue swelling in front of the anterior arch of the atlas. Subsequent CT of the C-spine confirmed a complete, undisplaced fracture of the anterior arch of the atlas (Gehweiler type I fracture). A Minerva cast was applied for 2 months, followed by a soft cervical collar. Persistent neck pain and limited range of motion of the neck after a fall may be indicative of atlas fracture that should be ruled out by CT.
Date Issued
2017-01-10
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Prüfer, Friederike | |
Walther, Michael | |
Studer, Daniel |
Additional Credits
Journal
BMJ case reports
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN
1757-790X
Access(Rights)
metadata.only