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Occult craniocervical dissociation on cervical CT: an under-appreciated presentation of craniocervical trauma requiring occipital cervical fusion

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Abstract

Background and purpose

Craniocervical dissociation is a rare and life-threatening injury that results from a significant hyperflexion-hyperextension force. Occult craniocervical dissociation is defined as an unstable craniocervical injury in the absence of atlanto-occipital joint space widening or other skull base line abnormality. The early and accurate diagnosis of craniocervical dissociation is crucial since the early diagnosis and subsequent stabilization with occipital-cervical fusion has been shown to reduce neurologic morbidity and mortality. Several normative skull base lines have been developed to predict craniocervical dissociation. The purpose of our study was to measure the atlanto-occipital joint space and four other common skull base lines in patients who underwent occipital-cervical fusion for post-traumatic craniocervical instability.

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent occipital-cervical fusion for craniocervical injury were identified retrospectively using a keyword search of radiology reports using Nuance mPower software. The cervical CT and MRI exams for these patients were reviewed and the atlanto-occipital joint space, Powers ratio, Wackenheim line, posterior axial line, and basion dens interval were measured. Detailed descriptions of craniocervical ligament injuries on MRI were recorded along with patient demographic information, clinical history, management, and outcome.

Results

Nine adult patients who underwent occipital-cervical fusion for an acute craniocervical injury were identified. Six patients demonstrated an atlanto-occipital joint space measuring 2 mm or less on cervical spine CT with no additional abnormality in the Powers ratio, Wackenheim line, posterior axial line, or basion-dens interval. Three patients demonstrated widening of the atlanto-occipital joint space with two patients demonstrating an abnormality in at least two additional skull base lines. Clinical outcomes were variable with nearly half of the patients demonstrating persistent neurologic deficits, including one quadriplegic patient.

Conclusions

A normal atlanto-occipital joint space and skull base line measurements on cervical CT demonstrated a low predictive value for detecting unstable craniocervical injuries. Occult craniocervical dissociation was present in two-thirds of patients who underwent occipital cervical fusion for acute, craniocervical trauma. A high clinical and radiologic index of suspicion for craniocervical trauma with subsequent follow-up cervical MRI to directly evaluate ligamentous integrity is necessary to accurately diagnose and triage patients with high velocity trauma.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Chris Brown for his illustrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32209, USA

    Peter Fiester, Dinesh Rao, Erik Soule & Matthew Jenson

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32209, USA

    Gazanfar Rahmathulla

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  1. Peter Fiester
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  2. Dinesh Rao
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  3. Erik Soule
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  4. Matthew Jenson
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Correspondence to Erik Soule.

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Fiester, P., Rao, D., Soule, E. et al. Occult craniocervical dissociation on cervical CT: an under-appreciated presentation of craniocervical trauma requiring occipital cervical fusion. Emerg Radiol 29, 383–393 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-022-02018-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-022-02018-4

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