title: Injuries to pathologically changed cervical vertebrae.
abstract: Three cases of fatal injuries to the upper cervical spinal cord and underlying cervical spine pathology are presented. It is stressed that the slightest suspicion concerning injuries to the upper part of the neck must lead not only to microscopic examination of the cervical spinal cord and medulla oblongata, but also to careful preparation (or maceration) of the upper cervical spine, in order not to overlook fractures or misinterpret old fractures and diseases as fresh fractures.
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications