Delayed Presentation of a Cervical Spine Fracture: A Case Report

The unique anatomy and flexibility of the cervical spine (C-spine) pose a risk of injury. Trauma to the C-spine encompasses a diverse range of injuries, ranging from minor muscular strains to life-threatening fractures and dislocations associated with spinal cord lesions. This case report concerns a man in his seventies who presented to the emergency department immediately after a road traffic collision with only a minor laceration on his forehead. The patient was discharged after a thorough evaluation and returned the next day, reporting left-hand paresthesia, although the examination yielded no significant findings. This prompted further investigations to confirm multiple cervical vertebrae fractures later.