Severe traumatic dislocation of the lower cervical spine with mild neurological symptoms: Case reports and literature review

Severe neck fractures and dislocations usually cause spinal cord injuries, but sometimes patients have only mild symptoms. This paper presents three such cases where patients had severe lower cervical dislocation but only mild neurological issues. In these cases, the fractures occurred in a way that enlarged the spinal canal, protecting the spinal cord. The patients underwent surgery to correct the dislocation, and their symptoms improved. The study suggests that if there's no clear compression of the spinal cord, traction can be used to help realign the spine before surgery. Surgery, either from the front, back, or both, can provide good stability and results.

• 1
  Severe traumatic dislocation of the lower cervical spine with intact neurological status is rare in clinical practice.
• 2
  Pathological canal enlargement preserves neurological function, and the most commonly injured segment is C7.
• 3
  Anterior or combined anterior and posterior cervical surgeries can provide rigid fixation with satisfactory results.