[A case of traumatic anterior dislocation of C4 recovered from complete tetraplegia]

A case of traumatic anterior dislocation of C4 is presented. A 65-year-old man who was beastly drunken fell down backward and severely struck occipital region against the door and immediately developed tetraplegia. Neurological examination 12 hours after the trauma revealed complete flaccid tetraplegia, abdominal respiration, bladder-bowel disturbance, anesthesia below C5 and hyperpathia in C3 and C4 dermatomes. Plain films of the cervical spine disclosed anterior dislocation of C4 upon C5 approximately 6 mm and possible disc herniation of C4/5. On Amipaque cervical myelography via C1C2 lateral puncture, there was almost complete block of the dye at C4/5 level. With diagnosis of acute cervical spinal cord injury on C4/5 caused by pincer mechanism and herniated disc material, the patient was operated on 19 hours after the trauma by anterior discectomy of C4/5 and fusion under Crutchfield skull traction. Neurological recovery began with the right leg from the day after the operation and it's recovery pattern showed the syndrome of acute central cervical spinal cord injury reported by Schneider. The patient discharged on March '84 four months after the trauma walking by himself with tetraparesis especially weakness of the hands and hypesthesia of glove and stocking type. We emphasized importance of Amipaque cervical myelography via C1C2 lateral puncture and anterior approach on the treatment of acute cervical spinal cord injury to be done as soon as possible.