Nuchal ligament detachment: A rare clinical case

Abstract

Background: Nuchal Ligament is a flat, membranous ligament in the cervical spine extending from External Occipital Perturbance to the 7th vertebrae of the cervical spine (C7) and provides stability to spinal cord and allows the head to stay in the upright position.Case Presentation: A 43-yo-male presents to the clinic with neck pain for past 2 weeks which started after lifting a refrigerator at his home. Conservative management has not provided much relief as the pain is constant and sharp in nature. Physical Exam is positive for neck tenderness with full range of motion, intact upper extremity muscle strength bilaterally, with no swelling or edema present. Discussion: Detachment of Nuchal Ligament is a very rare clinical finding with very limited research conducted about it. It is important for the clinician to keep nuchal ligament detachment in mind when dealing with a patient who has sustained an injury after a loaded rotational movement.