Frequency and significance of fractures of the upper cervical spine detected by CT in patients with severe neck trauma.

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Abstract
Radiographic evaluation of the upper cervical spine in patients who have suffered severe trauma is often problematic because of the difficulty of obtaining adequate open-mouth views of the odontoid in these critically ill patients. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and clinical significance of upper cervical spine fractures detected by CT in this patient population.The study group consisted of 100 consecutive patients brought to the emergency department after severe trauma who had CT of the craniocervical junction done instead of an open-mouth view. Plain film evaluation consisted of a cross-table lateral view, an anteroposterior view, and, if necessary, a swimmer's view. The radiographic studies were reviewed retrospectively by a musculoskeletal radiologist and a neuroradiologist, respectively. Hospital records were reviewed to ascertain the patients' clinical signs and symptoms on admittance and to determine how identification of the fractures changed the treatment plan.Eight fracture...

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