Subaxial injuries

Injuries to the subaxial cervical spine must be suspected in any patient who suffers a head injury or complains of neck pain or neurologic symptoms of the arms or legs following an accident, particularly a motor vehicle or diving accident. Careful neurologic examination and lateral roentgenograms are indicated in all patients with suspected injury. If there is any neurologic deficit, fracture, or dislocation seen on roentgenogram, skull-traction tongs should be applied to provide stability and prevent further damage. If the neurologic examination and roentgenograms are normal, a stretch-test roentgenogram may be indicated to detect an occult ligamentous injury. Muscular strains and first-degree sprains may be treated with a collar and early active exercise. Subluxation and facet dislocations are most reliably treated with a posterior one-level fusion. Comminuted body fractures are best treated with an anterior strut graft. Complex fracture-dislocations of both anterior and posterior columns may be best treated with skull traction followed by combined anterior and posterior stabilization. Halo-jacket immobilization has few indications in subaxial injuries. It does not provide enough stability to maintain reduction of unstable mid- and low-cervical injuries. It may be used for postoperative immobilization in very unstable situations, but its greatest use is in immobilization of C1 and C2 fractures.