Reversal of Traumatic Quadriplegia after Closed Reduction

A 39-year-old woman was struck by a truck traveling at high speed. Cervical computed tomography showed a dislocation between the C5 and C6 vertebrae (Panel A, sagittal reconstruction). Physical examination revealed less than antigravity strength in the bilateral deltoids with no other movement in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 359; no. 20; p. 2154
Main Authors Cowan, John A, McGillicuddy, John E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Waltham, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 13.11.2008
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
General aspects
Medical sciences
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Nervous system as a whole
Neurology
Medicine
Tetraplegia
Nervous system diseases
Reduction
Motor system disorder
Reversibility
Neurological disorder
Trauma
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Summary:A 39-year-old woman was struck by a truck traveling at high speed. Cervical computed tomography showed a dislocation between the C5 and C6 vertebrae (Panel A, sagittal reconstruction). Physical examination revealed less than antigravity strength in the bilateral deltoids with no other movement in the limbs. A C7 level with no sacral sensation was found. Gardner–Wells tongs were applied, and a closed reduction was performed within 4 hours after the initial injury. After reduction, the patient immediately regained antigravity strength in both arms and both legs. A posterior cervical fusion was performed in the operating room to stabilize normal alignment . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJMicm064490