Closed Reduction Technique.

Diagram of cranial tong technique for maintaining alignment and stability of the spine. Weight is increased gradually with a maximum of 45 to 50 lb (10 lb for the head and 5 lb for each successive interspace). Patients with an unrevealing examination may require an MRI scan before reduction to rule out a space-occupying lesion in the vertebral canal. Failure of reduction may also necessitate such a scan.

(From Court-BrownCM, DavidsonEK. Principles of nonoperative management. In: TornettaP III, RicciWM, OstrumRF, et al., eds. Rockwood and Green’s Fractures in Adults. Vol 1. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2020:248–295.)