title: Difficulties in distinguishing between an atlas fracture and a congenital posterior atlas arch defect in postmortem analysis.
abstract: We found one atlas from a sample of 148 skeletons (0.67%) that presented different anatomical variations which made it difficult to determine whether the vertebra had an atlas fracture, an unusual Type B posterior atlas arch defect, or a combination of both. We carried out a stereomicroscopy, radiographic, and computerized tomography scan study that revealed that the dry atlas we found presented a very uncommon congenital Type B posterior atlas arch defect, simulating a fracture. In short, the present paper has revealed that differentiating Type B posterior atlas arch defects from fractures in post-mortem dry vertebrae is more difficult than expected. Thus we believe that it can be easier than expected to mistake Type B posterior arch defects for fractures and vice versa in postmortem studies.
authors.affiliation: Valencia School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibanez, 15, E46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: juan.sanchis@uv.es.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sanchis-Gimeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, General University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanco-Perez
authors.affiliation: Valencia School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibanez, 15, E46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: Valencia School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibanez, 15, E46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez-Soriano
authors.affiliation: CT and MRI Unit, ERESA, Department of Radiology, General University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinez-Sanjuan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Atlas; Atlas fracture; CT scan; Posterior atlas arch defect