PMC9874219_01
Preoperative x-ray (A), CT (B), and MRI (C) showed a diagnosis of traumatic cervical myelopathy.
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F1
A 56-year-old man diagnosed with traumatic cervical myelopathy was admitted to our department (4 November) (Figure 1).
Postoperative x-ray [(A) anterio-posterially and (B) laterally] showed a satisfactory posterior fixation of cervical spine from C2-7.
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F2
He recovered smoothly; therefore, all other supplemental medicines were gradually stopped on postoperative day 3 except the antibiotic in case of skull base fracture and intracranial infection (although no obvious basilar fracture was detected on preoperative head CT) (Figure 2).
During this fever period (12 November was on postoperative day 8), elevated CRP, NEU%, ESR, and WBC gradually decreased to normal ranges. PCT was always within normal range.
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F3
However, his temperature rose abruptly to 38 C on the morning of postoperative day 8 (12 November) (Figure 4); then, for fear of infectious reasons, full infectious workup tests were performed, and the results showed the following: WBC: 14.31x109/L (4-10), which decreased to normal range 2 days later; neutrophil% (NEU): 88.2 (50-70), which abated to normal range 10 days later; PCT: 0.203 ng/ml (<0.5), which was always in the normal range; ERS: 69 mm/h (0-20); and CRP: 99.8 mg/L (5-10), which decreased back to the normal 10 days later (Figure 3).
A relative bradycardia could be calculated as demonstrated in our case.
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F4
However, his temperature rose abruptly to 38 C on the morning of postoperative day 8 (12 November) (Figure 4); then, for fear of infectious reasons, full infectious workup tests were performed, and the results showed the following: WBC: 14.31x109/L (4-10), which decreased to normal range 2 days later; neutrophil% (NEU): 88.2 (50-70), which abated to normal range 10 days later; PCT: 0.203 ng/ml (<0.5), which was always in the normal range; ERS: 69 mm/h (0-20); and CRP: 99.8 mg/L (5-10), which decreased back to the normal 10 days later (Figure 3). Fortunately, that afternoon, the highest temperature of our patient was 37.5 C (Figure 4); symptom of fever gradually decreased to normal status after 48 h of discontinuing of the drugs (23 November).