The role of pre-reduction MRI in the management of complex cervical spine fracture-dislocations: an ongoing controversy?

CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic evaluation of cervical fracture-dislocations should include advanced imaging by MRI in order to fully understand the injury pattern prior to proceeding with spinal reduction maneuvers which may impose the imminent threat of a devastating iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord. The presented staged management by initial Halo fixation without attempts for spinal reduction, followed by a surgical decompression and multilevel fusion, appears to represent a feasible and safe strategy for patients at risk of a delayed neurological injury. PMID: 28904564 [PubMed]
Source: Patient Safety in Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Patient Saf Surg Source Type: research