Circumferential fracture of the skull base causing craniocervical dislocation. Case report.
Fractures of the craniocervical junction are common in victims of high-speed motor vehicle accidents; indeed, injury to this area is often fatal. The authors present the unusual case of a young woman who sustained a circumferential fracture of the craniocervical junction. Despite significant trauma to this area, she suffered remarkably minor neurological impairment and made an excellent recovery. Her injuries, treatment, and outcome, as well as a review of the literature with regard to injuries at the craniocervical junction, are discussed.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA. ganesh.rao@hsc.utah.edu
Ganesh
G
Rao
Adam S
AS
Arthur
Ronald I
RI
Apfelbaum
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019291:Skull Base / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery