Accuracy of a dynamic surgical guidance probe for screw insertion in the cervical spine: a cadaveric study.

Study Design: A fresh frozen cadaver study was conducted.

Objective: To report the cortical breach rate using the dynamic surgical guidance (DSG) probe versus traditional freehand technique for cervical lateral mass, cervical pedicle and cervical laminar screws.

Methods: Nine male fresh frozen cadaveric torsos were utilized for this study.

Occult ligamentous injury of the cervical spine associated with cervical spine fracture.

We report the case of a 20-year-old patient with a C5 cervical spine fracture and an undetected ligamentous lesion between C1 and C2. Cervical spine lesion protocols and the rates of lesions that are not diagnosed with standard evaluation protocols are reviewed, with particular emphasis on comatose patients. Dynamic studies during the surgical procedure for fixation of the fracture are recommended to increase the detection of ligamentous lesions.