Spondylolysis at C6 Level and Associated Laminar Fracture of C5

Abstract

We describe a 42-year-old woman with bilateral spondylolysis of the sixth cervical vertebra, unusual in that it was associated with a traumatic laminar fracture of C5. Cervical spondylolysis is a relatively rare condition associated with dysplastic changes of posterior elements at the same or adjacent levels. The lesion must be differentiated from traumatic articular pillar fractures in patients who have had cervical spine trauma. A combined multistudy approach is necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis and to decrease the potential for misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy in most cases.