Occipito-cervico-thoracic spine fusion in a patient with occipito-cervical dislocation and survival

A 16-year-old man with occipito-cervical dislocation and survival was treated at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. The patient had ligamentous instability between the occiput and the cervical spine. His neurologic level was complete at the C1 level, and he was dependent on a mechanical respirator. S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Pa. 1976), 1986-07, Vol.11 (6), p.645-646
Main Authors: ZIGLER, J. E, WATERS, R. L, NELSON, R. W, CAPEN, D. A, PERRY, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Biological and medical sciences
Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging
Cervical Vertebrae - surgery
Craniocerebral Trauma - diagnostic imaging
Craniocerebral Trauma - surgery
Humans
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging
Joint Dislocations - surgery
Male
Medical sciences
Radiography
Skull - diagnostic imaging
Skull - surgery
Spinal Fusion - methods
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:A 16-year-old man with occipito-cervical dislocation and survival was treated at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. The patient had ligamentous instability between the occiput and the cervical spine. His neurologic level was complete at the C1 level, and he was dependent on a mechanical respirator. Sternocleidomastoid and other neck musculature were not functional. A fusion of the occiput to cervical spine and cervical spine to thoracic spine was performed to obviate the need for external neck support. The patient went on to fuse and is now independently mobile with a tongue-switch driven wheelchair with a respirator trailer 2 years after injury. The patient has no need for external support as a result of his fusion.
ISSN:0362-2436
1528-1159
DOI:10.1097/00007632-198607000-00026