Reduction and fixation of late diagnosed lower cervical spine dislocations using the Daab plate. A report of two cases.

The mode of treatment of late diagnosed lower cervical spine dislocations is a matter of controversy. Some workers consider surgical reduction 2 weeks after the trauma contraindicated, preferring posterior fusion in situ despite neurological defects. Classic techniques of posterior fixation by interspinous wiring may be insufficient in late reduced cases. This is especially true in the case of fracture of the posterior arch or the base of the spinous process, or if a laminectomy has been performed. Two complete dislocations of the lower cervical spine were reduced 2 and 8 weeks after the trauma in combination with posterior fixation using the Daab plate and posterolateral fusion. Both patients had marked neurological defects which were significantly alleviated after the operation; a solid fusion was achieved in both cases.