Closed reduction of fracture-dislocation of the sub-axial cervical spine with Gardner-Wells tongs. Technical note

Jeasson Javier Pérez Rios; Guillermo Iván Ladewig Bernáldez; Edith Oropeza Oropeza; Oscar Josué Montes Aguilar; Manuel Dufoo Olvera

doi:10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100948

Closed reduction of fracture-dislocation of the sub-axial cervical spine with Gardner-Wells tongs. Technical note

Trauma Case Rep. 2023 Sep 26:48:100948. doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100948. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Jeasson Javier Pérez Rios^{1

2}, Guillermo Iván Ladewig Bernáldez¹, Edith Oropeza Oropeza¹, Oscar Josué Montes Aguilar¹, Manuel Dufoo Olvera¹

Affiliations

¹ National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
² Mexico City Spine Clinic, "Dr. Manuel Dufoo Olvera", Mexico City, Mexico.

Abstract

Study design: Technical note.

Purpose: To provide a technical description of the placement of Gardner-Wells tongs and the performance of awake cranio-cervical traction to reduce AO type C injuries of the sub-axial cervical spine with Gardner-Wells tongs.

Methods: In this technical note, the authors present the indications, the contraindications, the pull-out of the pins, a detailed description of the technique for its proper placement, traction reduction technique, reduction maneuvers, complications and post-reduction care.

Results: Awake reduction of AO type C injuries of the sub-axial cervical spine can be successfully performed using Gardner-Wells tongs.

Conclusions: There is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of cranio-cervical traction in these vertebral injuries; however, we lack a detailed technical note to guide its proper placement.

Keywords: Closed reduction; Dislocation; Fracture; Gardner-Wells tongs; Sub-axial cervical.

Publication types

Case Reports