title: Atlanto-occipital disarticulation. Accident characteristics.
abstract: A retrospective study of cases of atlanto-occipital disarticulation was conducted to describe incident characteristics: 24 cases were identified, including nine motor vehicle drivers, two passengers, seven pedestrians, and five motorcyclists; one other person had fallen four stories. The highest rates were found among motorcyclists and pedestrians. Atlanto-occipital disarticulations occur in high-energy impacts and collisions and are associated with aortic laceration in 25% and basilar skull fracture in 21% of such cases. Current restraint systems and motorcycle helmets do not appear to prevent this generally rapidly fatal injury.
authors.affiliation: Medical Examiner Division, Seattle/King County Department of Health, WA 98104.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fligner
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Reay
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000293:injuries*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D011890:Railroads; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications