Occipitoatlantal Dislocation

• Published in: Neurosurgery Vol. 66; no. suppl_3; pp. A48 - A55
• Main Authors: Garrett, Mark, Consiglieri, Giacomo, Kakarla, Udaya K., Chang, Steve W., Dickman, Curtis A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.03.2010; Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
• Subjects: Atlanto-Occipital Joint - diagnostic imaging; Atlanto-Occipital Joint - pathology; Atlanto-Occipital Joint - surgery; Cervical Atlas - diagnostic imaging; Cervical Atlas - injuries; Cervical Atlas - pathology; Diagnostic Imaging - standards; Diagnostic Imaging - trends; Humans; Internal Fixators - standards; Internal Fixators - trends; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Joint Dislocations - surgery; Joint Instability - diagnostic imaging; Joint Instability - pathology; Joint Instability - surgery; Medical diagnosis; Occipital Bone - diagnostic imaging; Occipital Bone - injuries; Occipital Bone - pathology; Radiography; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Fusion - instrumentation; Spinal Fusion - methods; Spinal Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Injuries - pathology; Spinal Injuries - surgery; occipitocervical fusion; occipitoatlantal dislocation; Craniocervical anatomy
• ISSN: 0148-396X; 1524-4040; 1524-4040
• DOI: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000365802.02410.C5

Abstract OCCIPITOATLANTAL DISLOCATION (OAD) can be devastating. This injury may be fatal in many cases, but more survivors are reported because of improvements in diagnosis and treatment. This article describes the diagnosis and treatment of OAD. To diagnose and treat OAD appropriately, neurosurgeons must have a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the craniocervical junction. Various radiographic criteria are used to establish the diagnosis of OAD. A destabilizing injury such as OAD requires surgical fixation. Many surgical techniques are available for fixation of the craniocervical junction. Future studies will continue to refine the diagnostic criteria for OAD and to develop improved methods for craniocervical stabilization.