Nelson Astur, Jeffrey R Sawyer, Paul Klimo, Derek M Kelly, Michael Muhlbauer, William C Warner
Although once considered an invariably fatal injury, improvements in diagnosis and management have made atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) a survivable injury. MRI is the preferred imaging modality; occasionally, flexion/extension/distraction fluoroscopy may be required to determine craniovertebral stability. Early surgical stabilization is recommended for all children with AOD. Early occipitocervical fusion using screws in combination with a rod or plate, or sublaminar wires with a contoured rod, coupled with autograft bone, provide immediate stabilization and a high fusion rate...
May 2014: Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons