Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine
Updates to Article Attributes
Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine (also, also known as hyperflexion sprain), is a ligamentous injury toof the cervical spine.
Clinical presentation
Patient presentsPatients present with severe, focal neck pain. There may be neurological symptoms due to spinal cord oedemainjury.
Pathology
ItAnterior subluxation of the cervical spine results from posterior ligamentous complex injury, however, there may be an associated wedge fractureposterior intervertebral disc injury and compression fractures of the anterior vertebral bodies 1-3.
Causes include motor vehicle collisions (most common), diving into shallow water, falls and direct trauma 3.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph / CT
- may be normal
- focal kyphosis at the site of ligament disruption
- helps
differentiatingto differentiate the condition from diffuse reversal of cervical lordosis
- helps
- increased interspinous distance
- concerned disc space shows reduced height anteriorly and increased height posteriorly
- mild anterolisthesis may be noted
CT
CT shows the findings of radiograph in more detail.
MRI
MRI can demonstrate disruption of ligaments, including posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and interspinous ligaments.:
- soft tissue oedema is usually present: commonly in the interspinous space
- spinal cord oedema may be seen: usually
resultresults from traumatic disc herniation rather than compression bythebone
-<p><strong>Anterior subluxation of cervical spine</strong> (also known as <strong>hyperflexion sprain</strong>) is a ligamentous injury to the <a href="/articles/cervical-spine">cervical spine</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patient presents with neck pain. There may be symptoms due to spinal cord oedema.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It results from ligamentous injury, however, there may be associated wedge fracture.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul>- +<p><strong>Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine</strong>, also known as <strong>hyperflexion sprain</strong>, is a ligamentous injury of the <a href="/articles/cervical-spine">cervical spine</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients present with severe, focal neck pain. There may be neurological symptoms due to <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injury</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine results from <a href="/articles/posterior-ligamentous-complex">posterior ligamentous complex</a> injury, however, there may be an associated posterior intervertebral disc injury and <a href="/articles/wedge-fracture">compression fractures</a> of the anterior vertebral bodies <sup>1-3</sup>. </p><p>Causes include motor vehicle collisions (most common), diving into shallow water, falls and direct trauma <sup>3</sup>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph / CT</h5><ul>
-<li>focal kyphosis at the site of ligament disruption<ul><li>helps differentiating the condition from diffuse reversal of cervical lordosis</li></ul>- +<li>focal kyphosis at the site of ligament disruption<ul><li>helps to differentiate the condition from diffuse reversal of cervical lordosis</li></ul>
-</ul><h5>CT</h5><p>CT shows the findings of radiograph in more detail.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI can demonstrate disruption of ligaments, including posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and interspinous ligaments.</p><ul>-<li>soft tissue oedema is usually present: commonly in interspinous space</li>-<li>spinal cord oedema may be seen: usually result from traumatic <a href="/articles/disc-herniation">disc herniation</a> rather than compression by the bone</li>- +</ul><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI can demonstrate disruption of ligaments, including posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and interspinous ligaments:</p><ul>
- +<li>soft tissue oedema is usually present: commonly in the interspinous space</li>
- +<li>spinal cord oedema may be seen: usually results from traumatic <a href="/articles/disc-herniation">disc herniation</a> rather than compression by bone</li>
References changed:
- 3. W. R. Mower, C. M. Clements, J. R. Hoffman. Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine. (2016) Emergency Radiology. 8 (4): 194. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011902">doi:10.1007/PL00011902</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26811110">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>