title: Diagnosis and management of occipital condyle fractures.
abstract: The authors recently treated three cases involving fractures of the occipital condyle. First described by Bell in 1817, this lesion has proven to be very rare, with only 32 cases previously reported in the literature. Plain films often do not reveal any abnormality, making diagnosis difficult. High-resolution computed tomography has been demonstrated to be very sensitive in diagnosing this lesion. This fact was borne out in the authors' series. All of the authors' patients were managed either with a Philadelphia collar or with halo fixation, with excellent outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rosenwasser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Getch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D001915:Braces; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011859:Radiography; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy