Cineradiograms of Cervical Spine in Diagnosis of Soft-Tissue Injuries

The permanent recording of the dynamic action of the cervical spine by cineradiography was made in 107 patients, 57 of whom had sustained flexion-extension injuries (whiplash). The ability to demonstrate localized abnormal motion in the cervical spine allows one to predict soft-tissue injuries and the quality of spinal fusions, spinal stability, and early subluxation of the cervical spine—conditions that may not be identified on static roentgenograms nor at physical examination. Selected patients with supportive soft-tissue injuries who have not been helped by extensive conservative treatment may gain relief of symptoms only after fusion of the unstable cervical spine. In those patients in whom there is no evidence of abnormality on standard roentgenograms, cineradiography may represent the single, most important test to indicate the actual site for fusion.