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Cervical Trauma

  • Chapter
Spinal Imaging

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

The cervicocranium extends from the skull base to the C2–C3 disk space. Characteristics of the cervicocranium related to the normal development during childhood or later should not be misinterpreted as signs of trauma. Examples of these include the terminal ossification center of the dens, vertical cleft in the anterior arch of C1 and the non-ossified vertical cleft of the dens (Figs. 12.1 and 12.2). The smooth sclerotic margins distinguish these ossicles or clefts from acute traumatic lesions. Another normal developmental variant in childhood is the physiologic pseudosubluxation at C2–C3, or C3–C4 levels, which is found in up to 25% of children (Lustrin et al. 1994). Normal appearing apophyseal joints and a smoothly delineated spinolaminar line exclude a true subluxation. The cervicocranium includes the atlanto-occipital, atlanto-axial, and the intervertebral cervical joints.

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  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem-Antwerp, Belgium

    Özkan Özsarlak MD

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  1. Özkan Özsarlak MD
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  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Wilrijkstraat, 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD , Luc van den Hauwe MD  & Paul M. Parizel MD, PhD ,  & 

  2. Department of Radiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat 1, 9100, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD

  3. Department of Radiology, AZ KLINA, Augustijnslei 100, 2930, Brasschaat, Belgium

    Luc van den Hauwe MD

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Özsarlak, Ö. (2007). Cervical Trauma. In: Van Goethem, J.W.M., van den Hauwe, L., Parizel, P.M. (eds) Spinal Imaging. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68483-1_12

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