An important complication of upper cervical spine fracture: a case report

A case report is presented of a patient who sustained a high cervical spine fracture, the possible mechanisms of injury and details of the fracture are discussed. The patient developed bilateral vagal nerve palsies 48 h after the accident. This complication was only recognized after dysphagia and an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of emergency medicine 1993-09, Vol.10 (3), p.235-238
Main Authors: Hodgkinson, D W, Bamford, D J, Driscoll, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging
Cervical Vertebrae - injuries
Deglutition Disorders - etiology
Emergency Service, Hospital
Enteral Nutrition
Humans
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Paralysis - etiology
Radiography
Spinal Fractures - complications
Spinal Fractures - diagnostic imaging
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Vagus Nerve
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Description
Summary:A case report is presented of a patient who sustained a high cervical spine fracture, the possible mechanisms of injury and details of the fracture are discussed. The patient developed bilateral vagal nerve palsies 48 h after the accident. This complication was only recognized after dysphagia and an aspiration pneumonia developed. The complication of aspiration pneumonia was preventable. Meticulous and repeated examination of the cranial nerve function in this type of injury is recommended. Normal feeding should commence only when the cranial nerve function has been shown to be normal after repeated examination.
ISSN:0264-4924
1472-0205
1472-0213
DOI:10.1136/emj.10.3.235