Cervical hyperextension injury refers to the injury of the cervical vertebra, its supporting structure and spinal cord caused by excessive extension of the cervical vertebra under the violent action of craniofacial horizontal force, and it is a common type of cervical vertebra injury. Cervical hyperextension injury is more common in the elderly with spinal stenosis, and there are few serious clinical fracture and dislocation, mainly manifested as incomplete spinal cord injury such as central cord syndrome. This article reviews the research progress of injury mechanism and surgical treatment of cervical hyperextension injury.