Cervical vertebral fractures: effects and treatment

How are cervical vertebral fractures? What consequences can cause such trauma? These and other questions will be answered in this article.

Basic information

Fractures of cervical vertebrae are very dangerous, as they can cause disability or death of the victim.

The human neck is a complex natural mechanism that performs many functions. The most important role in this is played by muscles, cartilage, ligaments and bones. There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. As is known, they are separated by the so-called intervertebral discs and fastened by a whole system of ligaments.

What are vertebrae for? Experts say that they are designed to protect the bone marrow. As for the discs, it is a shock-absorbing component, thanks to which movements of the trunk and head are made.

In connection with all of the above, it can be safely noted that the fractures of the cervical vertebrae - this is a fairly serious injury. Very often, it does not respond to treatment and recovery.

Structure of the cervical spine

What can cause a fracture of the cervical vertebra? The consequences of this injury will be presented below.

According to experts, the part of the skeleton under consideration is divided into three columns:

1. The front column consists of 2/3 of the vertebrae, one ligament of the fibrous ring and intervertebral discs.
2. The middle column represents the posterior third of the vertebrae, one fibrous ring and intervertebral discs.
3. The posterior column is the processes, arches, spinous processes and plates.

If the resulting injury occurred in one column, the two remaining can prevent injury to the spinal cord. If two structures are violated, the spine is divided in two. In this case, there is a real risk of brain rupture.

In the anatomy of the vertebrae it is customary to designate the letter C, as well as ordinal numbers (1-7). Let's consider their features in more detail:

• C1. It is called the Atlantean. It consists of 2 arms, which are connected by lateral masses. It is commonly believed that it is the atlas that holds the head of a person. In reality, it acts as a link between the skull and the spine.
• C2. Its name sounds like an epistrophe. In the womb of the mother, this vertebra is connected with the Atlantean by a formation resembling a tooth. Sometimes it is called awned, because around it, as around the axis, the atlas rotates.
• C3-C6 have no names. It is a small-sized short vertebra with processes. It is in this part of the spinal column that most often various injuries occur.
• C7 is a protruding vertebra. It is provided with a long process, which is well palpated in the lower part of the neck.

Causes of injuries to cervical vertebrae

Why there are fractures of the cervical vertebrae? Most often, such injuries are formed due to the strongest mechanical effects. The reason for this can serve as various accidents or the careless behavior of a person. For example, a compression fracture of the cervical vertebrae is formed when the head falls down from a high altitude. Also, such a trauma can happen if a heavy object falls on the person's head. Often, such fractures affect children who have fallen from balconies, tall trees, attics, or athletes.

Fractures of the second vertebra occur due to car accidents. This is due to the fact that with a sharp impact in the lower region of the face, there is a trauma to the tooth-like process. In this case, its strong bias in the body of the spinal cord often leads to the death of the victim. Incidentally, an accident is a fairly common cause of a vertebral fracture.

Damage to the 3-5th vertebrae can occur due to sports injuries, the consequences of car accidents and severe strokes on the neck.

Damage to the 5th-6th cervical vertebrae is very often formed during diving, when a person did not calculate the depth of the jump and hit his head against the bottom or pitfalls.

Why there is a fracture of the cervical vertebra? Such a trauma is possible with strong falls and bumps (for example, in case of accidents, falls in football or hockey, accidents at home, criminal situations, etc.).

Symptoms and signs of damage

Fracture of the cervical vertebra or the other is difficult to notice. This is due to the fact that in most cases the signs of such damage are clearly pronounced.

A common symptom of such injuries is a significant, as well as gradually increasing pain syndrome in the place of fracture. It should be noted that for more damage, more specific characteristics can also be characteristic:

• At the turn of the atlas, not only the entire cervical region hurts, but also the neck.
• When a second vertebra is injured, a person can not rotate his head, and in more difficult cases, he has paralysis.
• If the third vertebra is damaged, it is impossible or very difficult to move the neck and head.
• Fracture of the 4 cervical vertebra, as well as the 5th and 6th, makes itself felt by swelling and sharp pain in the place of trauma. Also, with such damage, you can not move your head, shoulders and neck. In this case, neurologic abnormalities may appear.
• As for the fracture of the 7th cervical vertebra, this is the only trauma that can be seen with the naked eye, especially if it was offset.

How is it diagnosed?

It is impossible to diagnose the fracture of 5 cervical vertebra or any other independently. Identify such a trauma to the spine can only be an experienced specialist, relying on external signs. It should be noted that even a qualified doctor can not always correctly diagnose, based only on symptoms. Therefore, very many specialists send their patients to X-ray. Particularly clear in the picture is a fracture of the atlant.

It should also be noted that today the method of magnetic resonance imaging is actively used to detect such trauma.

First aid

What measures should be taken to help a person with a possible trauma to the cervical spine? An important point in this case is proper first aid. Experienced traumatologists with suspicion of a neck fracture do not advise moving the victim before the arrival of an ambulance, and also try to determine the type of injury obtained by palpating the head or neck of the patient. This is primarily due to the fact that an unskilled person can provoke damage to the spinal cord, as well as worsen the displacement of the vertebrae.

Fracture of cervical vertebra: treatment

After the arrival of an ambulance, the victim is obliged to fix the cervical spine with a special collar, and then take him to the hospital and hold a radiograph.

Having identified the nature of the fracture and the vertebra, which was damaged, the doctor should prescribe a treatment. Therapy of such a condition presupposes a patient's immobility, which enables the bones to fully integrate. Thus, for several months, the victim's neck is held in one position, using the collar of Shantz. Also sometimes the patient is for a long time in the loops of Glisson.

With compression fractures, as well as in the separation of bone fragments, a surgical operation is performed. If the injuries were very strong, then the specialists use the modern method, which involves replacing the injured intervertebral disc or vertebra with a telescopic prosthesis.

Consequences of a neck fracture

What consequences can cause a fracture of the cervical vertebra? Such traumas are dangerous first of all because a person can suffer spinal cord. Often spiky fragments formed due to the destruction of bones, pierce directly into the body of the brain, thereby causing an immediate paralysis or even the death of the patient.

When paralyzes on the spine of a person are beneficially affected by therapeutic massages and physical education. If the trauma was not too serious, then such activities rather well help the victim to recover. However, it should be noted that most often such fractures are very strong and serious, and therefore incurable.

Preventing injuries

How to avoid fracture of cervical vertebrae? Prevention of such injuries implies avoidance of dangerous cases. Experts do not recommend people to dive or swim in unknown places. Also, during repair work or playing sports, all safety rules must be observed. By the way, these rules should necessarily teach children from an early age.

If a person's work is associated with height or dangerous tricks, then he needs to develop the stability of the cervical spine to various injuries. For example, strengthening of ligaments and muscles is facilitated by daily gymnastics or any other physical exercises. Also yoga and dumbbell exercises are also good in this regard.

Thus, regular training and exercises, as well as full nutrition and taking multivitamin complexes will help a person to strengthen their skeleton and muscular-ligament apparatus, which will not lead to unfortunate consequences in unexpected situations.