Infantile cervical ligament edema
Updates to Article Attributes
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Infantile cervical ligament oedema can typically be seen when infants have suffered accidental or abusive head and neck trauma. The finding is best seen on sagittal STIR images.
Terminology
The posterior ligamentous complex refers to the ligamentum flavum and interspinous ligaments. The anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, ligamentum flavum, and apical ligament are all seen on cervical MR studies.
Epidemiology
Not known.
Clinical Presentation
The infant will undergo neck imaging as part of a trauma evaluation.
Pathology
In a group of homicide victims who were children under the age of 2 years, 21% of those who had spinal cord injuries had cervical ligamentous injury as well 1 .
Radiographic features
MRI
- STIR: ligaments are hyperintense
Treatment and prognosis
The ligamentous injury is not treated in isolation. If there is brain, spinal cord or spine injury, these are treated accordingly.
Practical Pointspoints
Neck MRI is indicated in severe infantile head and neck injury. It is debatable whether ligamentous neck injury is suggestive of non-accidental traumainjury 2-4 .
-<p><strong>Infantile cervical ligament oedema</strong> can typically be seen when infants have suffered accidental or abusive head and neck trauma. The finding is best seen on sagittal STIR images.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>The <a href="/articles/posterior-ligamentous-complex">posterior ligamentous complex</a> refers to the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">ligamentum </a><a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">flavum</a> and <a href="/articles/interspinous-ligament">interspinous ligaments</a>. The <a href="/articles/anterior-longitudinal-ligament">anterior</a> and <a href="/articles/posterior-longitudinal-ligament">posterior longitudinal ligaments</a>, ligamentum flavum, and <a href="/articles/apical-ligament">apical ligament</a> are all seen on cervical MR studies.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Not known.</p><h4>Clinical Presentation</h4><p>The infant will undergo neck imaging as part of a trauma evaluation.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>In a group of homicide victims who were children under the age of 2 years, 21% of those who had <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injuries</a> had cervical ligamentous injury as well <sup>1</sup> .</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI</h5><p><strong>STIR</strong>: ligaments are hyperintense</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The ligamentous injury is not treated in isolation. If there is <a href="/articles/traumatic-brain-injury">brain</a>, <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord</a> or <a href="/articles/cervical-spine-injury">spine injury</a>, these are treated accordingly.</p><h4>Practical Points</h4><p>Neck MRI is indicated in severe infantile head and neck injury. It is debatable whether ligamentous neck injury is suggestive of non-accidental trauma <sup>2-4</sup> .</p>- +<p><strong>Infantile cervical ligament oedema</strong> can typically be seen when infants have suffered accidental or abusive head and neck trauma. The finding is best seen on sagittal STIR images.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>The <a href="/articles/posterior-ligamentous-complex">posterior ligamentous complex</a> refers to the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">ligamentum </a><a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">flavum</a> and <a href="/articles/interspinous-ligament">interspinous ligaments</a>. The <a href="/articles/anterior-longitudinal-ligament">anterior</a> and <a href="/articles/posterior-longitudinal-ligament">posterior longitudinal ligaments</a>, ligamentum flavum, and <a href="/articles/apical-ligament">apical ligament</a> are all seen on cervical MR studies.</p><h4>Clinical Presentation</h4><p>The infant will undergo neck imaging as part of a trauma evaluation.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>In a group of homicide victims who were children under the age of 2 years, 21% of those who had <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injuries</a> had cervical ligamentous injury as well <sup>1</sup> .</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul><li>
- +<strong>STIR</strong>: ligaments are hyperintense</li></ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The ligamentous injury is not treated in isolation. If there is <a href="/articles/traumatic-brain-injury">brain</a>, <a href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord</a> or <a href="/articles/cervical-spine-injury">spine injury</a>, these are treated accordingly.</p><h4>Practical points</h4><p>Neck MRI is indicated in severe infantile head and neck injury. It is debatable whether ligamentous neck injury is suggestive of <a title="Non-accidental injury" href="/articles/non-accidental-injuries">non-accidental injury</a> <sup>2-4</sup> .</p>
Images Changes:
Image 1 MRI (STIR) ( update )
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Image 2 MRI (STIR) ( update )
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Case 2: cervical ligamentous oedema
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