• Michael D Ross and John M Cheeks.
• Department of Physical Therapy, David Grant US Air Force Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CA 94535, USA. michael.ross2@travis.af.mil
• J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Jul 1;38(7):418-24.

Study DesignResident's case problem.BackgroundThe purpose of this paper is to provide the examination of and decision-making process for a patient referred to physical therapy for the treatment of neck pain following trauma. She was found to have an underlying odontoid fracture that precluded physical therapy intervention.DiagnosisThis case involved a 73-year-old woman who had a sudden onset of neck and left upper extremity pain after a fall 15 days prior to her initial physical therapy visit. Conventional cervical spine radiographs completed 1 day prior to her initial physical therapy visit were negative for a fracture. However, several components of this patient's history and physical examination were consistent with a condition for which physical therapy intervention would not be indicated until more definitive cervical spine diagnostic imaging had been completed; more specifically, the physical therapist was primarily concerned about the possibility of an undetected fracture. The referring physician was contacted and immediate magnetic resonance imaging was requested, which revealed a type II fracture of the odontoid. Thirty-four days after her fall, the patient underwent a C1-C2 fusion.DiscussionWhen evaluating patients with neck pain who have a history of cervical spine trauma, it is important that physical therapists understand the clinical findings associated with cervical spine fractures, as these findings provide guidance for the use of cervical spine diagnostic imaging and medical referral prior to implementing physical therapy interventions.Level Of EvidenceDiagnosis, level 4.

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