FRACTURES OF THE AXIS (C2)

FRACURES OF THE AXIS OR C-2 USUALLY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF SOME KIND OF TRAUMA. THE TRAUMA CAN BE A SUDDEN, SEVERE TWISTING OF THE NECK, OR A SEVERE BLOW TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD OR NECK. MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, FALLS, AND SPORTS INJURIES ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF C-2 FRACTURES.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE PAIN AT THE POINT OF INJURY. BRUISING AND SWELLING. PAIN AND NUMBNESS DOWN THE NECK AND INTO THE SHOULDERS. IF THE DENS OF C-2 IS FRACTURED, THERE MAY BE PARALYSIS FROM THE NECK DOWN.

NO MATTER THE SEVERITY OF THE FRACTURE, IMMOBILIZATION OF THE NECK IS DONE. A SEVERE FRACTURE OF ONE INVOLVING THE DENS MAY LEAD TO SURGERY. IMMOBILIZATION CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A COLLAR, TO TRACTION WITH WEIGHTS AND A PULLEY, TO A HALO BRACE.

WITH PROPER IMMOBILIZATION AND HEALING A FULL RECOVERY FROM A C-2 FRACTURE IS POSSIBLE.

CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS

CAROTID STENOSIS IS A NARROWING OF THE INNER LUMEN OF THE CAROTID ARTERY, USUALLY CAUSED BY A BUILDUP OF PLAQUE. THE PLAQUE CAN BUILD UP AND CAUSE A COMPETE BLOCKAGE. SOMETIMES SOLID PIECES CALLED EMBOLI CAN BREAK OFF AND TRAVEL THROUGHT THE BLOOD VESSELS TO THE BRAIN. THIS CAN RESTRICT OR BLOCK BLOOD FLOW TO THE BRAIN WHICH CAN LEAD TO A TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACH, OR A STROKE.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WEAKNESS OR NUMBNESS TO A LIMB OR ONE SIDE OF THE BODY. LOSS OF SIGHT IN ONE EYE. ARTERY SOUNDS, AND RINGING IN THE EAR.

DIAGNOSES IS USUALLY DONE FROM EITHER A DUPLEX ULTRASOUND, A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAM , OR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ANGIOGRAM. SOMETIMES AN ANGIOGRAM IN THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PERFORMED.

TREATMENT FOR CAROTID STENOSIS INCLUDE ANTIPLATELET DRUGS. A PROCEDURE WHERE A CAROTID STENT IS PLACED. AND WHEN NEEDED, A SURGERY TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED AREA CALLED A CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY IS DONE.

SOFT TISSUE ABSCESS OF THE NECK

A SOFT TISSUE ABSCESS IS A COLLECTION OF PUS FROM AN INFECTION. AS THE INFECTION INCREASES, THE PRESSURE FROM THE INCREASED SIZE OF THE PUS COLLECTION PUSHES AGAINST NECK STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE THROAT AND TONGUE.

AN ABSCESS USUALLY FOLLOWS A BACTERIAL OR VIRAL INFECTION OF THE HEAD OR NECK. EXAMPLES OF THESE INCLUDE: A COLD, TONSILLITIS, SINUS INFECTION, OR EAR INFECTION. AS THE INFECTION WORSENS IT SPREADS DEEP INTO THE SOFT TISSUES OF THE NECK.

SYMPTOMS OF A SOFT TISSUE NECK ABSCESS INCLUDE: FEVER, SORE THROAT, SWELLING TO THE THROAT OR NECK, EAR PAIN, NECK PAIN AND STIFFNESS. IN SEVERE CASES A PERSON MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR SWALLOWING.

BLOOD TESTS, THROAT CULTURE, AND XRAYS MAY ALL BE PERFORMED TO DIAGNOSE A SOFT TISSUE NECK ABSCESS. CT AND MRI THE BEST DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS TO EVALUATE FOR AN ABSCESS. WITH MRI HAVING THE BEST SOFT TISSUE RESOLUTION.

TREATMENT USUALLY INVOLVES ANTIBIOTICS. IF NEEDED THE ABSCESS CAN BE DRAINED VIA A NEEDLE.