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Subaxial cervical spine injuries

Subaxial cervical spine injuries involve traumatic injuries to the cervical vertebrae from C3 to C7 and may affect the vertebral bodies, discs, facet joints, ligaments, and spinal cord. They commonly result from high-energy trauma and can range from stable compression fractures to highly unstable fracture-dislocations with neurological injury. Assessment focuses on spinal stability, neurological status, and morphology of injury, commonly using CT, MRI, and classification systems such as SLIC.

Subaxial cervical spine injuries refer to traumatic injuries involving the cervical spine from C3 to C7. These injuries include fractures, facet dislocations, disco-ligamentous injuries, and combinations of bony and soft-tissue disruption. They may occur following road traffic accidents, falls, diving injuries, or other high-energy trauma and can be associated with significant spinal cord or nerve root injury. Initial assessment follows trauma principles with strict cervical spine immobilization and a detailed neurological examination. The injury is evaluated for the mechanism and morphology of trauma, integrity of the disco-ligamentous complex, and neurological status. CT scanning is the primary imaging modality for defining fractures and alignment, while MRI is useful for evaluating the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, ligaments, epidural hematoma, and other soft-tissue injuries. Common patterns include compression fractures, burst fractures, flexion-distraction injuries, facet fractures and dislocations, and translational or rotational injuries. The Subaxial Injury Classification and Severity Score (SLIC) considers injury morphology, integrity of the disco-ligamentous complex, and neurological status to help guide treatment. Stable injuries without neurological deficit may be treated conservatively with immobilization and close radiographic follow-up. Unstable injuries, progressive deformity, significant neural compression, or neurological deficit often require operative stabilization and decompression. Surgery may be performed through an anterior, posterior, or combined approach depending on the injury pattern. The main goals of management are to protect the spinal cord, restore alignment, achieve stable fixation, decompress neural structures when required, and allow early mobilization while preventing secondary neurological deterioration.

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Subaxial cervical spine injuries

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Subaxial cervical spine injuries

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