Posterior Intersegmental Fusion of Unstable Jefferson Fracture

Abstract

Background: to report a case of posterior intersegmental fusion of unstable Jefferson fracture.

Case Presentation: The patient is a 37-year-old man with neck pain that was the victim of a motor vehicle accident. His neurological examination was normal. A cervical computed tomographic scan revealed an isolated unstable Jefferson fracture associated with Spence criteria.The patient was treated via C1 lateral mass screws construct. The screws were connected with a rod and nuts to reduce lateral spread of the lateral masses. The postoperative CT showed that C1 lateral mass screws were well positioned.

Conclusion: The treatment of unstable Jefferson fractures remains controversial. Conservative treatment usually associated with the longtime of immobilization in halo vest, whereas surgical treatment generally eliminating the range of motion of upper cervical spine. It seem that the ideal treatment of unstable Jefferson fractures is expected to preserve the function of C0-C1-C2.