Anterior cervical corpectomy in severe cervical trauma with persistent neurological deficit: case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21142/mecp.2026.1.1.e008Keywords:
Cervical corpectomy, Spinal Cord Compression, Paralysis, Spinal cord injuriesAbstract
Severe cervical trauma is an important cause of neurological disability in adults, particularly when associated with spinal cord compression. Anterior cervical corpectomy is an effective decompression and stabilization technique indicated for unstable fractures, ventral compressive lesions, and failure of conservative management. This procedure allows direct decompression of the dural sac and restoration of spinal stability through the placement of prosthetic cages and cervical plates. We present the case of a 20-year-old male with a history of falling from a two-story height, resulting in a C6 fracture and upper-limb diplegia. After one year without improvement under conservative management, an anterior cervical corpectomy at C7 and C6-T1 arthrodesis with a titanium cage and cervical plate were performed. The postoperative course demonstrated significant neurological recovery. Anterior cervical corpectomy is a safe and effective surgical option for severe cervical trauma, promoting functional recovery and patient reintegration.
Downloads
References
1. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Wilson JR, Aarabi B, Anderson P, Arnold PM, et al. A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Central Cord Syndrome: Recommendations on the Timing (≤24 Hours Versus >24 Hours) of Decompressive Surgery. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 Suppl):195S-202S. doi: 10.1177/2192568217706367.
2. SMITH GW, ROBINSON RA. The treatment of certain cervicalspine disorders by anterior removal of the intervertebral disc and interbody fusion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1958;40-A(3):607- 24.
3. Yee TJ, Swong K, Park P. Complications of anterior cervical spine surgery: a systematic review of the literature. J Spine Surg. 2020;6(1):302-322. doi: 10.21037/jss.2020.01.14.
4. Kaiser MG, Haid RW Jr, Subach BR, Barnes B, Rodts GE Jr. Anterior cervical plating enhances arthrodesis after discectomy and fusion with cortical allograft. Neurosurgery. 2002;50(2):229-36. doi: 10.1097/00006123-200202000-00001.
5. Foreman M, Foster D, Gillam W, Ciesla C, Lamprecht C, Lucke-Wold B. Management Considerations for Cervical Corpectomy: Updated Indications and Future Directions. Life (Basel). 2024;14(6):651. doi: 10.3390/life14060651.
6. Bharadwaj S, Balasubramanian S. Management of Cervical Spine Fractures and Injuries: A Literature Review. Cureus. 2024;16(12):e75642. doi: 10.7759/cureus.75642.
7. Gupta A. Evolving Spinal Treatment Modalities: A Review of the Literature on Non-surgical Interferential Differential Dynamics (IDD) Therapy. Cureus. 2024;16(5):e59873. doi: 10.7759/cureus.59873.
8. Tatter C, Persson O, Burström G, Edström E, Elmi-Terander A. Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion for Degenerative and Traumatic Spine Disorders, Single-Center Experience of a Case Series of 119 Patients. Oper Neurosurg. 2020;20(1):8-17. doi: 10.1093/ons/opaa235.
9. Kalampokis A, Benetos IS, Vasiliadis E, Pneumaticos SG. A Review of the Literature on Surgical Management in the Acute Phase of Spinal Cord Injury: Expected Outcomes and the Influence of Surgical Timing. Cureus. 2025;17(5):e84066. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84066.
10. Fehlings MG, Hachem LD, Tetreault LA, Skelly AC, Dettori JR, Brodt ED, et al. Timing of Decompressive Surgery in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Review Update. Global Spine J. 2024;14(3_suppl):38S-57S. doi: 10.1177/21925682231197404.
11. Khorasanizadeh M, Yousefifard M, Eskian M, Lu Y, Chalangari M, Harrop JS, et al. Neurological recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2019;30(5):683-699. doi: 10.3171/2018.10. SPINE18802.
12. Buttermann GR. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Outcomes over 10 Years: A Prospective Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018;43(3):207-214. doi: 10.1097/ BRS.0000000000002273.
13. Youssef JA, Heiner AD, Montgomery JR, Tender GC, Lorio MP, Morreale JM, et al. Outcomes of posterior cervical fusion and decompression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine J. 2019;19(10):1714-1729. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2019.04.019.
14. Lin Q, Zhou X, Wang X, Cao P, Tsai N, Yuan W. A comparison of anterior cervical discectomy and corpectomy in patients with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Eur Spine J. 2012;21(3):474-81. doi: 10.1007/s00586-011-1961-9.
15. Khaing ZZ, Chen JY, Safarians G, Ezubeik S, Pedroncelli N, Duquette RD, et al. Clinical Trials Targeting Secondary Damage after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(4):3824. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043824.
16. Wilson JR, Tetreault LA, Kwon BK, Arnold PM, Mroz TE, Shaffrey C, et al. Timing of Decompression in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 Suppl):95S-115S. doi: 10.1177/2192568217701716.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Medical Education & Clinical Practice

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


