Traumatic atlantooccipital dislocation with survival: case report and review of the literature

✍ Scribed by P. Guigui; M. Milaire; G. Morvan; B. Lassale; A. Deburge

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 813 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0940-6719
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00303419

✦ Synopsis

We present the case of a patient with traumatic atlantooccipital dislocation. The initial neurological examination showed no abnormalities. Dislocation was the result of rapid deceleration in a motor vehicle accident. The mechanism of injury was hyperextension/rotation, probably combined with a distraction force. Only a few cases of atlantooccipital dislocation without neurological involvement have been reported. Every report pointed out difficulties of initial diagnosis. Special attention should be directed toward the atlanto-odontoid-basion relationships as seen on lateral radiographs. Prompt recognition and surgical stabilization are essential to avoid further neurological injury.