Presentation
Motor vehicle collision, no movement in the lower body.
Patient Data
CT of the cervical spine shows grade V spondylolisthesis of C6 on C7, known as spondyloptosis. The C6 and C7 vertebral bodies are at the same level, which is considered Type II spondyloptosis. The malalignment is in a Tetris S type configuration.
Postoperative changes of C4-T2 posterior laminectomy and fusion. Grade 1 retrolisthesis C6 on 7. Apparent complete transection of the spinal cord at the C6-C7 levels with increased spinal cord T2 signal, probably edema.
Case Discussion
Spondylolisthesis is a spine disorder in which a vertebra slips forward onto the vertebra below it. A common method of grading the severity is Meyerding classification.
Spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine in adults. This case shows a pediatric severe cervical spondylolisthesis (grade V) also known as spondyloptosis. 60-80% of all spine injuries in children involve the cervical spine. This patient had a complete cord transection due to the injury, which correlated with his clinical presentation of predominantly lower body paralysis.
Case submitted in collaboration with Danica Cecil Ujano.
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