J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2008 Dec;15(4):290-298. 10.4184/jkss.2008.15.4.290.

Upper Cervical Spine Injury

• Park HJ

• KMID: 2209635
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2008.15.4.290

Abstract

Upper cervical spine injuries, including atlantooccipital articulation, are being recognized more commonly and there is an increasing number of reports of patients surviving with injuries previously thought to be fatal. The bony elements of the upper cervical spine consist of the occiput, atlas and axis. The nature of their articulations provides no inherent stability, but rather relies on ligaments to maintain the structural integrity. Some upper cervical injuries, occipitocervical injuries, and isolated midsubstance transverse ligament ruptures, are usually unstable and frequently result in neurological injury or death. Therefore, these injuries warrant early instrumented posterior arthrodesis. Most upper cervical spine injuries can be treated non-surgically and heal readily. Implementation of a diagnostic algorithm consisting of screening parameters gathered from the plain radiographs as well as routine CT and MRI scans in high risk patients should reduce the occurrence of missed injuries.

Keyword

Upper cervical spine; Injury; Treatment

MeSH Terms

Arthrodesis
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Humans
Ligaments
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mass Screening
Rupture
Spine