[Radiologic aspects of traumatic lesions of the cervico-occipital junction].
BACKGROUND
Traumatic lesions of cervical spine are common, but those of the cervico-occipital junction are less frequent but more serious.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the radiological aspects of cervico occipital Junction traumatisms.


METHODS
It is a retrospective study of 32 files of cervico occipital junction traumatisms, collected from January 1995 to December 2004. Imaging methods used were: conventional radiography and computed tomography.


RESULTS
Cervico occipital junction traumatisms were less common. They account for 12.7% of cervical spine traumatisms and 0.64% of the admissions. Patients mean age was of 36 years with a male predominance of 81%. Main etiologies were public highway accidents (66%), falls (7%), sports accidents (6%). Bone lesions were most frequent, dominated by fractures of the axis (58%), followed by those of the atlas (24%) and of the occipital bone (5%). Dislocations were observed in 10 patients. Basilar print was observed in two patients who deceased. Polytrauma was observed in 34% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervico occipital junction traumatisms are severe and uncommon in hospitals because of their high lethality. CT is most effective for analyzing lesions.
N'Dri
K
K
Service de radiologie, C.H.U. de Bouaké. ndrik@ci.refer.org
Coulibaly
S
S
Kouassi
K B F
KB
Varlet
G
G
Konate
I
I
Gbazy
G C
GC
Abby
B C
BC
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed