Management of hyper-flexion injury-related teardrop fracture in an adolescent

BMJ Case Rep. 2016 Jan 28:2016:bcr2015211876. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-211876.

Abstract

We present a case of a flexion teardrop fracture managed surgically with anterior stabilisation and fusion between the affected vertebral body to its posteriorly adjacent level. A 14-year-old girl presented with severe neck pain following a fall from a bunk bed. MRI investigation showed signs of axial loading and hyper-flexion yielding a teardrop fracture at the body of the C5 vertebra. Using a novel technique, the patient was treated surgically with an anterior fusion of the C5-C6 vertebra. Her 12-month follow-up demonstrated full functional ability.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Adolescent
  • Cervical Vertebrae / injuries*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal* / methods
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neck Pain / etiology*
  • Neck Pain / surgery
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Fractures / etiology
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery
  • Spinal Fusion*
  • Treatment Outcome