- Spine Unit, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinica Alemana, Santiago, Chile.
- Professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University del Desarrollo (UDD), Santiago, Chile.
- Medical Student, University del Desarrollo (UDD), Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Traumatology, Hospital de la Fuerza Aerea de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Correspondence Address:
Ratko Yurac, MD, Spine Surgeon, Professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University del Desarrollo, Clinica Alemana de Santiago, Chile.
DOI:10.25259/SNI_159_2022
Copyright: © 2022 Surgical Neurology International This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.How to cite this article: Ratko Yurac1,2, Juan Jose Zamorano1, Andrea Marre3, Cristian Diaz4. Traumatic cervical spine injury due to pole dance accident: A potentially catastrophic unreported injury with a happy ending. Case report and literature review. 22-Apr-2022;13:162
How to cite this URL: Ratko Yurac1,2, Juan Jose Zamorano1, Andrea Marre3, Cristian Diaz4. Traumatic cervical spine injury due to pole dance accident: A potentially catastrophic unreported injury with a happy ending. Case report and literature review. 22-Apr-2022;13:162. Available from: https://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/11553/
Abstract
Background: Pole dancing is a sport that has become very popular. However, there is scarce literature on injuries associated with this sport. Here, we present a 23-year-old female who sustained a traumatic C4-C5 vertex cervical spine injury caused by a fall of 1 m while practicing pole dancing in an inverted position, requiring a 360 decompression/fusion.
Case Description: A 23-year-old female sustained a 1 m fall in an inverted position while pole dancing resulting in a direct axial impact to the head. She developed the rapid onset of quadriparesis that was attributed to the emergent CT/MR-documented cervical flexodisruptive luxofracture (AOSpine C4-C5 fracture: C, F4 unilateral, N3, M2). Four hours post injury, she underwent a C4-C5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Four days later, a posterior fusion was performed to add to the stabilization. Six years later, the patient remains neurologically intact.
Conclusion: Pole dance is an emerging sport which carries a risk of cervical spine injury.
Keywords: Cervical, Injury, Spine, Pole dance, Trauma
INTRODUCTION
Pole dancing is an emerging sport that carries a risk of significant cervical spine trauma due to falls. This particularly applies when performing maneuvers in an inverted position such as hanging from a 40 to 50 mm diameter metal tube anchored to the floor and ceiling (usually over a 2.2 m height).[
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 23-year-old female sustained a fall while pole dancing in an inverted position 1 m off the floor. This resulted in a direct axial impact on the vertex of the head that precipitated the onset of an acute quadriparesis (Motor Index Score [MIS] of 64/100, with a C5 motor and T2 sensory level). The injury was originally classified as an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Score D,[
Radiographic studies
Brain and spine CT/MR studies documented a C4-C5 flexion/distraction injury, an acute anterior disc extrusion with superior migration, complete bilateral jumpted facet joints, and complete disruption of the posterior ligamentous complex [
Surgery
Preoperatively, cervical traction was applied under anesthesia/fluoroscopic control confirming marked instability; 8.8 pounds of traction resulted in reduction of the C4-C5 listhesis/dislocation, but had to be reduced to 6 pounds with mild neck extension to preserve the achieved reduction. A C4-C5 anterior discectomy was performed utilizing a PEEK cage and plate fusion; the surgery was completed within 7 hours after the accident. A secondary posterior C4-C5 lateral mass screw/ rod fusion was performed to address the posteriorly disrupted ligamentous complex [
DISCUSSION
Literature review
Pole dancing is an increasingly popular sport,[
CONCLUSION
Pole dancing is an emerging sport which carries an inherent risk of serious cervical spine injury, particularly when patients sustain falls while inverted. Once these accidents occur, they must be expeditiously recognized and treated to avoid permanent neurological sequelae.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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