PMC6466965_01
(a) Cervical spine X-ray. (b) Cervical spine CT. (c) X-ray under skull traction.
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fig1
A 25-year-old male patient with a C6 fracture and dislocation (AO classification C1.2.4) was treated with skull traction following an unsuccessful manual reduction on the day of the accident (Figure 1).
(a) X-ray during the first surgery. (b) X-ray during the second surgery.
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fig2
Radiographs indicated that the mesh cage was not well positioned postoperatively (Figure 2(a)). The patient was thus taken for secondary surgery to revise the plate and mesh cage (Figure 2(b)).
(a) Gastrografin swallow study. (b) Gastrografin swallow study 8 weeks later. (c) UGI endoscopy.
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fig3
An oesophageal fistula at the level of C6 was confirmed by a gastrografin swallow test and laryngoscopy (Figure 3(a)). The patient reported no discomfort at three-month follow-up (Figures 3(b) and 3(c)).