title: Surviving atlanto-occipital dislocation.
abstract: Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation carries a significant mortality and morbidity. We present the clinical and radiological features of a case of traumatic skeletal and central nervous system disunion. Thanks to a combination of early resuscitation and luck, the patient survived an improbably severe injury to leave hospital and enjoy a degree of independent life. Such severe injuries are usually fatal and the literature on such extensive cervical disruption is often confined to postmortem evidence.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Fremantle Hospital, Alma Street, Fremantle, West Australia, Australia. benbloom@mail.com
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: Bruce P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000293:injuries*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome