Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026
A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor
Published on: July 24, 2012
Association between cervical spine and skull-base fractures and blunt cerebrovascular injury
Karen Buch1, Thanh Nguyen2, Eric Mahoney3
1Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 820 Harrison Avenue, FGH Building 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. karen.buch@bmc.org.
Introduction:
Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality and can lead to neurological deficits. The established criteria for patients undergoing CT angiography (CTA) for BCVI are broad, and can expose patients to radiation unnecessarily. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of BCVI in patients on CTA and determine presentations associated with the highest rates of BCVI.
Materials And Methods:
With IRB approval, patients were selected for CTA screening for BCVI according to a predefined set of criteria at our hospital between 2007 and 2010. Patients were identified from our institution's trauma database. CTAs were retrospectively reviewed for BCVI including vasospasm and dissection. Electronic medical records were reviewed for clinical presentation and hospital course.
Results:
Of 432 patients, vasospasm (n = 10) and/or dissection (n = 36) were found in 46 patients (10.6%). BCVI was associated with cervical spine and/or skull-base fracture in 40/46 patients (87%, P < 0.0001). Significant correlations were seen between dissection and fracture in 31/36 patients (86.2%, p < 0.0001) and between BCVI and both neurological deficits and fractures (27/44, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
BCVI was significantly associated with cervical and/or skullbase fractures and neurological deficits with coexistent fractures. Patients with these injuries should be prioritized for rapid CTA evaluation for BCVI.
Key Points:
• CTA screening is important to identify patients with underlying BCVI • Cervical spine and/or skullbase fractures were significantly associated with BCVI • BCVI may occur in up to 11% of patients with blunt trauma injuries.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
01:19Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:28Articulations of the Vertebral Column
01:10The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
01:08Overview of the Skull
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...