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  • Ronald
    Member
    Post count: 3

    I found out recently from my doctor that I fractured my neck in several places a number of years ago. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control I didn’t receive any treatment at the time. My doctor tells me that I should have worn a halo neck brace.
    Has anyone any suggestions on whether or not these old fractures could be causing my headaches, dysphagia, neck pain, facial pain, shoulder pain & arm pain.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Based upon that video of your CT scan, there are various possibilities of the abnormal appearances of the vertebra and transverse processes.

    The right transverse process of T1 could have been from an old fracture or from an ununited apophysis (a developmental or growth plate injury when you were young)

    The wedging of the C5 and C6 vertebra could have been from an old fracture or from current degenerative changes.

    I see no reason that based upon these possible injuries that you needed to be in a halo device. You probably would have needed a cervical collar only.

    The CT scan is incomplete. There were axial cuts made that could detail possible forminal stenosis (see website) which could cause shoulder and arm pain. The neck pain could be generated from your degenerative disc disease. Dysphagia is typically not caused by the cervical spine and headaches have many causes of which the cervical spine is but one. Facial pain is normally from the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve not affected by the neck.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    Ronald
    Member
    Post count: 3

    Thank you for your response Dr Corenman I found it very helpful. Apparently during the incident I suffered a hyperflexion injury of my cervical spine causing compression fractures of C5 & 6 along with 2 fractures of my right clavicle and a fracture of my right 1st rib. My doctor has also pointed out old damage to the foramen transversarium of C1 & C2 to me and also told me my odontoid peg was misaligned.
    Regards

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Your newer images do help with possible previous injury diagnosis. The appearance of the odontoid does not particularly indicate a previous fracture. The appearance can be consistant with many other developmental processes. The split in the transverse process of C1 at the foramen transversarium can also be developmental. The deformity of C5 and C6 do look like post-trauma changes.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    Ronald
    Member
    Post count: 3

    Many thanks Dr Corenman.

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