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Hyperextension spinal injury with cord injury

Case contributed by Mahomed A. Osman
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Hyperextension injury & upper limb weakness

Patient Data

Gender: Male

The cervical spine is hyperextended. Multilevel degenerative changes most pronounced at C6/C7 with anterior and posterior osteophytes. Disc space narrowing at C6/C7. Avulsion fracture of the anteroinferior aspect of the C4 vertebral body, minimally displaced.

Marked spinal stenosis at C3-C6 level, with compression of the spinal cord and increased T2 signal intensity of the cord in that region, indicating edema secondary to spinal cord injury. No convincing evidence of cord hemorrhage. 

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