Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography to Demonstrate Absence of Bony Displacement After Intubation in a Patient with an Acute Type III Odontoid Fracture

A A Case Rep. 2015 Jul 15;5(2):25-8. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000167.

Abstract

A 72-year-old patient with an acute traumatic Type III odontoid fracture presented to the operating room for an urgent orthopedic procedure with a history of uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux, a full stomach, and active vomiting. Rather than fiberoptic intubation, a rapid sequence intubation with manual inline stabilization was performed using a videolaryngoscope. A lateral cervical spine radiograph immediately after intubation showed no change in alignment of the fracture of C1-C2. In the presence of cervical spine instability, a postintubation radiograph provides assurance that the cervical spine is appropriately aligned during subsequent surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intubation, Intratracheal
  • Joint Instability
  • Odontoid Process / diagnostic imaging
  • Odontoid Process / injuries*
  • Radiography
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery