Evaluation for Vertebral Artery Injury with Cervical Dislocated Fracture and Optimal Treatment before Reduction

Objective: Cervical dislocated fractures frequently cause vertebral artery injury (VAI), which, in turn, propagates the thrombus at the site of injury. Cerebral embolism due to a thrombus after the reduction of dislocation leads to a poorer neurological outcome. Therefore, we investigated the outcome of treatment for cervical dislocated fractures and the usefulness of parent artery occlusion (PAO) before reduction.Methods: Eight patients with cervical dislocated fractures with a locked facets treated at our hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 were evaluated. We retrospectively examined patient characteristics and clinical outcomes.Results: Among the eight patients, two were injured at C4/5, four at C5/6, and two at C6/7. All patients had locked facets. Four patients had bilateral dislocation, while the others had unilateral dislocation. Two patients with unilateral dislocation had ipsilateral vertebral artery occlusion (VAO), while the other six did not. Both patients with VAO underwent PAO to prevent cerebral embolism before reduction. The six patients who did not have VAI underwent reduction without preprocedural treatment. No cerebral ischemic complications were observed. One patient died due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles caused by spinal cord injury but the remaining seven recovered well.Conclusion: PAO before reduction for cervical dislocated fractures with VAO may be effective in preventing cerebral embolism after reduction.