Temporary anterior cervical plating in a child with traumatic cervical ligamentous instability

Application of anterior cervical plates in children is problematic because of the growing spine, and thus has been reported only rarely in the medical literature. In this case report, a 7-year-old with traumatic C(2-3) and C(3-4) ligamentous instability was treated surgically by limited-duration anterior cervical plating. The plate was removed in a second operation, as the osseous union occurred 1 year after the primary operation. Limited-duration anterior cervical plating is an alternative for stabilization operations of the growing cervical spine in children.