Cervical Trauma
A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after diving into shallow water. He complains of severe neck pain. He is neurologically intact. CT cervical spine shows bilateral fractures of the anterior and posterior arches of C1 with a combined lateral mass overhang of 9mm on the odontoid (open-mouth) view. MRI shows an intact transverse ligament. Regarding Jefferson fractures of the atlas:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Jefferson fractures are burst fractures of the C1 (atlas) ring caused by axial loading, typically fr...
The transverse ligament (TAL) is the primary stabilizer of the atlantoaxial joint; the Rule of Spenc...
Jefferson fractures typically cause severe neurological injury due to the narrow spinal canal at C1;...
The Levine and Edwards classification divides Jefferson fractures based on transverse ligament integ...
Neurological injury is rare in isolated Jefferson fractures because the spinal canal is widest at C1...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option