title: Occipito-atlanto-axial dissociation in a child with preservation of life: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We report a case of a survivor of occipito-atlantal dislocation with atlantoaxial subluxation, an injury which is frequently fatal. Children less than 11 years of age appear to be especially vulnerable to these injuries due to their anatomy. The mechanism is alluded to but poorly understood. The literature review highlights the difficulty in confirming dislocation and subluxation based on the metrics of anatomic landmarks.
authors.affiliation: Parkway Regional Medical Center, North Miami Beach, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jared P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Salinsky
authors.forename: Gaetano J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.forename: Alvin H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed