Extreme dislocation of the cervical spine—case report

The case report describes a rare and severe dislocation of the cervical spine (C6/C7) in a young woman following a traffic accident, resulting in complete spinal cord transection. The surgical team faced dilemmas regarding the timing and approach of the surgery, ultimately deciding on a posterior approach for reduction and stabilization. Despite the surgical intervention and supportive care, the patient's condition worsened postoperatively, leading to a fatal outcome 16 days after the injury.

• 1
  The patient sustained a severe C6/C7 dislocation resulting in complete transection of the spinal cord, as confirmed by MDCT imaging.
• 2
  Posterior surgical reduction and stabilization were performed, but the patient developed postoperative complications, including sepsis and increased inflammatory markers.
• 3
  Despite initial stabilization, the patient's condition deteriorated, leading to asystole and death on the 16th postoperative day.