Expert's comment concerning grand rounds case entitled "a traumatic, high-energy and unstable fracture of the C5 vertebra managed with kyphoplasty: a previously unreported case" (by Nasir A. Quraishi and Sherief Elsayed)

Abstract

Case presentation of a cervical spine fracture treated by kyphoplasty. The review of the case, especially the careful re-assessment of the x-rays reveals that the treatment goals have not been achieved (motion preservation, functional restoration of the vertebral body). The case report is an excellent example of our biased viewpoint in assessing our efforts.

Fig. 1

The view of the CT scan gives a different appearance in comparison to the presented values in the case presentation. (a) Preoperative: PVH = 1.62, MVH = 0.56, AVH = 1.0; (b) postoperative: PVH = 1.64, MVH = 0.71, AVH = 1.2 (measures in cm). The measures are taken from another slice of the reconstruction

Fig. 2

The follow-up X-ray shows a tendency to a spontaneous fusion between C4 and C5 by a bridging osteophyte (b). Furthermore there is an important step off at the posterior wall between C5 and C6, which appears even more pronounced than on the preoperative Film (a)