TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaging of atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial traumatic injuries
T2 - What the radiologist needs to know
AU - Riascos, Roy
AU - Bonfante, Eliana
AU - Cotes, Claudia
AU - Guirgui, Mary
AU - Hakimelahi, Reza
AU - West, Clark
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© RSNA, 2015.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Approximately one-third of all cervical spine injuries involve the craniocervical junction (CCJ). Composed of the occiput and the first two cervical vertebrae, this important anatomic landmark, in conjunction with an intricate ligamentous complex, is essential to maintaining the stability of the cervical spine. The atlantoaxial joint is the most mobile portion of the spine, predominantly relying on the ligamentous framework for stability at that level. As acute onsite management of trauma patients continues to improve, CCJ injuries, which often lead to death onsite where the injury occurred, are increasingly being encountered in the emergency department. Understanding the anatomy of the CCJ is crucial in properly evaluating the cervical spine, allowing the radiologist to assess its stability in the trauma setting. The imaging findings of important CCJ injuries, such as atlanto-occipital dissociation, occipital condyle fractures, atlas fractures with transverse ligament rupture, atlantoaxial distraction, and traumatic rotatory subluxation, are important to recognize in the acute setting, often dictating patient management. Thin-section multidetector computed tomography with sagittal and coronal reformats is the study of choice in evaluating the extent of injury, allowing the radiologist to thoroughly evaluate the stability of the cervical spine. Furthermore, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly being used to evaluate the spinal soft tissues and ligaments, and to identify associated spinal cord injury, if present. MR imaging is also indicated in patients whose neurologic status cannot be evaluated within 48 hours of injury.
AB - Approximately one-third of all cervical spine injuries involve the craniocervical junction (CCJ). Composed of the occiput and the first two cervical vertebrae, this important anatomic landmark, in conjunction with an intricate ligamentous complex, is essential to maintaining the stability of the cervical spine. The atlantoaxial joint is the most mobile portion of the spine, predominantly relying on the ligamentous framework for stability at that level. As acute onsite management of trauma patients continues to improve, CCJ injuries, which often lead to death onsite where the injury occurred, are increasingly being encountered in the emergency department. Understanding the anatomy of the CCJ is crucial in properly evaluating the cervical spine, allowing the radiologist to assess its stability in the trauma setting. The imaging findings of important CCJ injuries, such as atlanto-occipital dissociation, occipital condyle fractures, atlas fractures with transverse ligament rupture, atlantoaxial distraction, and traumatic rotatory subluxation, are important to recognize in the acute setting, often dictating patient management. Thin-section multidetector computed tomography with sagittal and coronal reformats is the study of choice in evaluating the extent of injury, allowing the radiologist to thoroughly evaluate the stability of the cervical spine. Furthermore, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly being used to evaluate the spinal soft tissues and ligaments, and to identify associated spinal cord injury, if present. MR imaging is also indicated in patients whose neurologic status cannot be evaluated within 48 hours of injury.
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U2 - 10.1148/rg.2015150035
DO - 10.1148/rg.2015150035
M3 - Article
C2 - 26562241
AN - SCOPUS:84946922098
SN - 0271-5333
VL - 35
SP - 2121
EP - 2134
JO - Radiographics
JF - Radiographics
IS - 7
ER -