Longitudinal atlantoaxial dislocation associated with type III odontoid fracture due to high-energy trauma. Case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic upper cervical spine injuries are frequently associated with high-energy trauma. The potential injuries to vital organs associated to a possible neurological damage marks the severity of this pathology. The neurological structures can be affected by a primary injury, spinal cord, cranial nerves and spinal nerves; or secondary to a vascular compromise, mainly the vertebral arteries. The dislocation of the atlantoaxial joint causes an unstable cervical spine that could be often associated with fracture of the Atlas and Axis. Evidently, these have a high morbimortality rate. CASE PRESENTATION: A young woman who suffered a severe polytrauma secondary to a motor vehicle collision was diagnosed with a sagittal plane atlantoaxial joint dislocation associated with a type III odontoid fracture, despite an adequate initial polytrauma management, the neurological damage was too critical, ultimately the decease of the patient. DISCUSSION: The atlantoaxial joint dislocation is a rare condition of the upper cervical spine and is usually secondary to a high-energy traumatism. The disruption of the atlantoaxial ligaments originates the considered most unstable cervical spine lesion and with the highest mortality. Attributable to the kinetic the bone fracture of the Atlas and Axis are commonly related, specially the odontoid process. Early immobilization followed by surgical decompression and stabilization is primordial. Typically, these injuries have an ominous prognosis, that is aggravated if added a polytrauma affecting adjacent neurological structures and other vital organs.

Intradural disc herniation: how I do it.

BACKGROUND: Intradural disc herniation is a rare phenomenon in spine surgery. Diagnosis is difficult despite current neuroradiologic imaging techniques. METHOD: We present a case of a 59-year-old man with lumbar and radicular pain and a recurrent lumbar herniation. A laminectomy was performed after no clear disc herniation in the epidural space was found and an intradural mass was palpable. A durotomy showed an intradural disc fragment that was removed, followed by an arthrodesis. CONCLUSION: Only intraoperative findings lead to a definitive diagnosis for intradural herniation. A durotomy needs to be performed. In this case, an arthrodesis was necessary to avoid complications of segmental instability.