Traumatic Anterior L4 Fracture Dislocation With Iliac Artery Compression in a 6-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report

A six-year-old Caucasian boy sustained an L4 anterior fracture dislocation with cauda equina transection at L3/L4 level with L4 vertebral body compression of the left common iliac artery after a single motor vehicle accident. He was treated with emergent open reduction and pedicle screw fixation with return of left common iliac patency. This was followed by multiple bowel resections on postadmission day 3.

Anterior spinal fracture dislocations in pediatric patients are rare, caused by high-energy collisions, and are often complicated by multiple traumatic injuries, including vascular and neurological compromise that necessitate emergent intervention.