Redislocation After a Failed Surgery to Treat C6/7 Fracture-Dislocation With Pedicular Fracture of the C6 Vertebra: Case Report of a Successful Revision Surgery, Analysis of the Causes, and Discussion of Revision Surgical Strategies

Cervical spinal fracture-dislocation with pedicular fracture of the vertebra has been little reported and the management of such a patient is difficult. Considering the little knowledge of this area, we present this special case of a successful revision surgery for the treatment of redislocation after a failed surgery to treat C6/7 fracture-dislocation with pedicular fracture of the C6 vertebra to share our experience. A 45-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with history of neck pain for 4 months. According to his medical records, he was involved in an architectural accident and diagnosed with C6/7 fracture-dislocation with pedicular fracture of the C6 vertebra (ASIA: D). A surgery of posterior lateral mass screw fixation (bilateral in C5 and C7; left side in C6) was performed in a different institution. However, 4 months after his primary surgery, he was still troubled by serious neck pain and muscle weakness in all right side limbs. The physical examination of the patient showed hypoesthesia in the right side limbs, myodynamia of the right side limbs weakened to Grade 4. Cervical X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the redislocation of C6/7. A successful revision surgery of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) with nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 composite fulfilled with vertebral autograft plus anterior plate was performed. The 3 months postoperative X-rays and CT scan showed the good position of the implant and bony fusion. The patient's neck pain was relived and the neurological function recovered to ASIA E grade at the 3rd month follow-up. ACCF with nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 composite fulfilled with vertebral autograft plus anterior plate is effective for the treatment of redislocation after a failed surgery in patients of fracture-dislocation with pedicular fracture. The best method to avoid such a failed surgery is a combined anterior–posterior approach surgery in our opinion.