Severe hyperflexion sprains of the lower cervical spine in adults

Severe sprains of the cervical spine result from a traumatic rupture of the intervertebral disc and ligaments. Although rare, these lesions may lead t o a significant kyphotic deformity if they are not surgically treated. The treatment of such a kyphotic deformity may consist of surgical fixation of the lesion through either an anterior or posterior approach. A retrospectiv e study has been done examining 44 severe cervical sprains in 41 patients s urgically treated through a posterior approach, using Roy-Camille plates. W ith an average followup of 29 months (range, 6-60 months), 73% of the patie nts recovered a normal range of spinal motion, with either moderate or no p ain. No neurologic or vascular complications directly attributable to poste rior plating and no secondary kyphosis were observed. A moderate sagittal d isplacement with kyphotic angulation occurred above the fusion in five pati ents. Posterior screw plate fixation appears to be a safe and effective tre atment for severe hyperflexion sprain of the lower cervical spine in the ad ult.