Positive Outcome After a Small-Caliber Gunshot Fracture of the Upper Cervical Spine without Neurovascular Damage.

Walter, Thula; Schwabe, Philipp; Schaser, Klaus-Dieter; Maurer, Martin (2016). Positive Outcome After a Small-Caliber Gunshot Fracture of the Upper Cervical Spine without Neurovascular Damage. Polish journal of radiology, 81, pp. 134-137. International Scientific Information 10.12659/PJR.895529

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BACKGROUND

Gunshot wounds to the cervical spine most frequently concur with serious injuries to the spinal cord and cervical vessels and often have a fatal outcome.

CASE REPORT

We describe the case of a 35-year-old male with a complex fracture of the C2 vertebra body and a mandibular fracture after a penetration gunshot to the cervical spine. Computed tomography (CT) at admission revealed the exact extent of the fractures and the small caliber bullet lodged next to the C2 vertebra. In this rare and extremely lucky case no collateral vascular or neurological damage was detected. Eighteen months after surgical bullet removal and posterior C1-C3 fusion complete bone healing of the C2 vertebra was achieved and there were no secondary neurovascular deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate surgical C1-C3 fixation resulted in an excellent outcome without secondary neurovascular deficits in this rare case of traumatic complex C2 vertebral fracture caused by a gunshot injury.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology

UniBE Contributor:

Maurer, Martin

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1733-134X

Publisher:

International Scientific Information

Language:

English

Submitter:

Karin Hofmann

Date Deposited:

19 Apr 2017 15:02

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:02

Publisher DOI:

10.12659/PJR.895529

PubMed ID:

27081417

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Axis; Spinal Fractures; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds, Gunshot

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.94105

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/94105

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