A dislocated vertebra involves displacement of the small bones in the neck. This tends to occur right after a traumatic injury involving the neck or head especially in vehicular accidents or falls from a great height.
What are the symptoms?
- Abrupt pain in the neck caused by a direct force or acute injury
- Tenderness when the neck is touched
- Pain that spreads into the arm and shoulder
- Deformity can be visible
- Muscle spasms in the neck
- Weakness in the arms
- Neural symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the arm
If an individual involved in a vehicular accident or fall experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. In case the individual is unconscious, it is not wise to move the individual due to the possible of a dislocated vertebra. Once the emergency team arrives on the scene, the individual is moved properly in order to prevent further damage.
What are the causes?
A dislocated vertebra in the cervical region is typically instigated by a traumatic injury involving the neck or head as well as falls or vehicular accidents. The usual mechanisms usually include axial loading of the head or exaggerated neck flexion, extension or rotation. Remember that this injury is often combined with fractured vertebrae.
Cases of dislocations can be categorized as stable or unstable depending on the damage to the soft tissues that surround the joint, particularly the spinal ligaments. In some circumstances where there is minimal or no damage to the ligament, the vertebrae can reduce itself before an assessment is carried out. This is why the condition is difficult to diagnose.
Just like with any spinal injury, the worst case scenario is that the dislocation will cause damage to the spinal cord. In such cases, quadriplegia or even death can occur.
Treatment
In case a spinal injury is suspected, do not attempt to move the individual in any way and call for immediate emergency assistance. Once the individual arrives at the hospital, he/she will undergo a thorough examination and imaging scans including X-rays so that a diagnosis can be confirmed.
Additional tests such as CT scan, MRI and nerve conduction tests can be carried out to determine the extent of soft tissue and nerve damage. If a fracture is not detected, the vertebrae can often be reduced using closed manipulation under traction. The doctor will perform this procedure by manipulating the neck to move the bone back to its proper position.
Surgical intervention might be required when the closed manipulation procedure is not successful or in severe cases that involves fractures, disc herniation or substantial neurological symptoms. When maintaining the stability, the bones are fixed in place using pins or wires to hold the vertebrae in place.