Citation

Chiu CK, Yin-Wei Chan C, Saw LB, Kwan MK. Eur. J. Trauma Emerg. Surg. 2010; 36(2): 180-182.

Affiliation

Orthopedic Surgery, University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00068-009-8212-3

PMID

26815695

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Injury to the cervical spine due to a scarf associated accident has not been reported in the literature. We present a case of a hangman's fracture in a 43-year-old woman that resulted from a scarf related injury as a consequence of a motor vehicle accident.

PURPOSE: To identify the mechanism of a scarf-related injury causing Hangman's fracture. CASE REPORT: A 43-year-old woman was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She was wearing a scarf, which is a common clothing accessory for women in Malaysia. The scarf was violently torn off her head during the injury, causing a type I hangman's fracture. A halo vest for a total period of 3 months was applied.

CONCLUSION: A scarf-related injury can cause an injury that resembles judicial hanging, leading to a traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis. Careful evaluation of the cervical spine radiographs is crucial as occult fracture of the axis can be missed.

Language: en