CASE REPORT

Polytrauma Patient with Thoracic Spondyloptosis and Neurological Preservation: a case report

Paciente Politraumatizado Com Espondiloptose Torácica e Preservação Neurológica: relato de caso

  • Gustavo Wagner Baratti Rocha    Gustavo Wagner Baratti Rocha
  • Enzo Muzi    Enzo Muzi
  • Bianca Gomes Wanderley    Bianca Gomes Wanderley
  • Thiago Magalhães de Souza    Thiago Magalhães de Souza
  • Andrei Fernandes Joaquim    Andrei Fernandes Joaquim
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Resumo

A espondiloptose torácica traumática é uma condição rara, geralmente resultante de um trauma de alta energia, com déficits neurológicos catastróficos na maioria dos casos. Este relato de caso descreve um homem de 27 anos que sofreu espondiloptose em T5-T6 após um acidente de motocicleta. O paciente apresentou instabilidade vertebral grave, compressão da medula espinhal e déficits neurológicos parciais (AIS D). Uma intervenção cirúrgica de emergência, incluindo corpectomia torácica posterior (encurtando a coluna torácica para redução) e fusão instrumentada posterior, foi realizada para estabilizar a coluna e preservar a função neurológica. O pós-operatório do paciente foi complicado por delirium na UTI, mas a reabilitação precoce levou a uma melhora neurológica parcial, restaurando a capacidade de caminhar sem assistência. Este caso destaca os desafios e as estratégias eficazes de manejo da espondiloptose torácica, enfatizando a importância da intervenção cirúrgica imediata e do cuidado multidisciplinar.

Palavras-chave

Trauma espinhal; Vértebras torácicas; Espondiloptose

Abstract

Traumatic thoracic spondyloptosis is a rare condition, typically resulting from high-energy trauma, with catastrophic neurological deficits in most of the cases. This case report describes a 27-year-old man who sustained a T5-T6 spondyloptosis following a motorcycle accident. The patient presented with severe spinal instability, spinal cord compression, and partial neurological deficits (AIS D). Emergency surgical intervention, including a posterior thoracic corpectomy (shortening the thoracic spine for reduction) and posterior instrumented fusion, was performed to stabilize the spine and preserve neurological function. The patient’s postoperative course was complicated by ICU delirium, but early rehabilitation led to partial neurological improvement restoring walking ability without assistance. This case highlights the challenges and effective management strategies for thoracic spondyloptosis, emphasizing the importance of prompt surgical intervention and multidisciplinary care.

Keywords

Spinal trauma; Thoracic vertebrae; Spondyloptosis

References

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1Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

2Neurosurgery Department, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.


 

Received Mar 2, 2025

Corrected June 5, 2025

Accepted June 10, 2025


JBNC  Brazilian Journal of Neurosurgery

JBNC
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  •   e-ISSN (online version): 2446-6786
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