Figure 1

Cervical Spine Trauma. A. A lateral cervical spine radiograph reveals a C4 spinous process fracture with inferior displacement. The C5 vertebral body is slightly compressed with a tiny teardrop fragment anteriorly (black arrow). The prevertebral soft tissue margin is clearly visualized and there is a suggestion of widening secondary to edema. (white arrows) B. A sagittal reconstruction of a CT scan reveals the same findings as the radiograph but in much more detail. C. A sagittal T2-weighted MR image reveals high signal intensity in the C5 vertebral body (black arrow), in the posterior soft tissues, and within the cord itself. The latter finding is characteristic of spinal cord contusion, edema, and/or hemorrhage. D. An axial CT image shows a complete vertical fracture (arrows) through the C5 vertebral body, a finding not seen on the lateral radiograph or sagittal CT display. (Images courtesy of Lindsay J. Rowe, Newcastle, Australia).