Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the case of a missed cervical spine fracture in a patient with neck pain.
CLINICAL FEATURES: A 21-year-old thatcher with neck pain presented to a chiropractic clinic after a fall from a roof 4 m high. The hospital radiographs were read as normal. The chiropractor suspected a Jefferson fracture of the atlas after evaluation of the same radiographs.
INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The chiropractor retook the anteroposterior open-mouth radiograph to confirm the suspected fracture. The patient was referred for further imaging and underwent neurosurgical treatment, after which he recovered well.
CONCLUSION: Normal radiologic reports from a hospital cannot be relied on for contraindications to manipulative treatment in all instances, as shown in this case of a missed fracture. Chiropractors should therefore always evaluate radiographs that are brought to them.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 210-3 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Apr 2001 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging
- Chiropractic
- Diagnostic Errors
- Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging
- Humans
- Male
- Netherlands
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
