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Diagnosis and management of traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation injuries
Standards:
There is insufficient evidence to support diagnostic standards.
Guidelines:
There is insufficient evidence to support diagnostic guidelines.
Options:
A lateral cervical x-ray is recommended for the diagnosis of atlanto-occipital dislocation. If a radiological method for measurement is used, the basion-axial interval-basion-dental interval method is recommended. The presence of upper cervical prevertebral soft tissue swelling on an otherwise nondiagnostic plain x-ray should prompt additional imaging. If there is clinical suspicion of atlanto-occipital dislocation, and plain x-rays are nondiagnostic, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is recommended, particularly for the diagnosis of non-Type II dislocations.
Standards:
There is insufficient evidence to support treatment standards.
Guidelines:
There is insufficient evidence to support treatment guidelines.
Options:
Treatment with internal fixation and arthrodesis using one of a variety of methods is recommended. Traction may be used in the management of patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation, but it is associated with a 10% risk of neurological deterioration.
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