AN IMPORTANT COMPLICATION OF UPPER CERVICAL-SPINE FRACTURE - A CASE-REPORT

A case report is presented of a patient who sustained a high cervical spine fracture, the possible mechanisms of injury and details of the f racture are discussed. The patient developed bilateral vagal nerve pal sies 48 h after the accident. This complication was only recognized af ter dysphagia and an aspiration pneumonia developed. The complication of aspiration pneumonia was preventable. Meticulous and repeated exami nation of the cranial nerve function in this type of injury is recomme nded. Normal feeding should commence only when the cranial nerve funct ion has been shown to be normal after repeated examination.