title: [Upper cervical spine injuries and their diagnostic features].
abstract: The upper cervical spine includes the articulations of the occiput with atlas and the atlas with the axis, as well as the bony structures of the base of the skull, axis, and atlas. The unique anatomy of the upper cervical spine and the typical mechanisms of injury yield a predictable variety of injury patterns. Injuries to this area include occipital condyle fractures, occipitoatlantal dislocations, subluxations and dislocations of the atlantoaxial articulation, atlas fractures, odontoid fractures, and fractures of the arch of the axis. Injuries to this region are relatively common and can be easily overlooked because patients with the upper cervical injury may have an associated head injury, which can alter their level of consciousness and complicate obtaining an accurate history and physical examination. The complex regional anatomy and overlying structures make plain radiographic images difficult to interpret. Delayed recognition can result in significant disability. A thorough understanding of the clinical presentation, radiographic assessment, and mechanisms of injury can minimize morbidity and enhance treatment effectiveness for the more common upper cervical ligamentous and bony injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. egidijuskon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Egidijus
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontautas
authors.forename: Kazys Vytautas
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Ambrozaitis
authors.forename: Bronius
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spakauskas
authors.forename: Alfredas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smailys
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed