الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 111 |  |  |
| | | from | 111 | | |
Abstract
The cervical spine is made up of the first seven vertebrae in the spine. It starts just below the skull and ends just above the thoracic spine. The upper two vertebrae in the cervical spine, the atlas and the axis, differ from the other vertebrae because they are designed specifically for rotation. The cervical spine is 3 distinct columns: anterior, middle, and posterior. Lower cervical spine fractures and dislocations constitute complex issue owing to the special anatomy and kinesiology of the bone and ligaments comprising the cervical spine. The inclusions of the spinal cord and its roots with in this body-ligamentous complex adds more difficult in managing such injury.The importance of the position of the head and neck at the time of impact and the direction of force causing injury play a role in determining the type of injury. Evaluation of such injuries comprises X ray. Computed Tomography, magnetic resonance as well as accurate detailed neurological examination. Somatosensory and motor evoked potentials add to the accuracy of diagnosis.It is surprising that patients who have either refused treatment or have received inadequate treatment because of mistaken diagnosis should be free from symptoms and signs. However, this does emphasize the importance of a careful examination of the neck after head injuries because it is easy to miss a serious dislocation. Fracture-dislocation of the atlas is easily missed unless kept in mind in the differential diagnosis. The essential points are a history of recent injury (usually a blow or fall on the head), rigidity of the neck, limitation of head movement and perhaps neuralgia or anaesthesia of the great occipital nerve. The fracture is easily recognised in a good lateral radiograph, but the area is a difficult one for radiography.