C1 FRACTURES

Course overview

THE CRANIOCERVICAL JUNCTION IS COMPRISED OF C1 (ATLAS) AND C2 (AXIS). THE OCCIPITO-ATLANTAL AND ATLANTOAXIAL ARTICULATIONS PROVIDE 50% OF THE FLEXION AND ROTATION IN THE CERVICAL SPINE, RESPECTIVELY. DUE TO THEIR HIGH DEGREE OF MOTION, THESE BONY SEGMENTS ARE ALSO THE MOST OFTEN INJURED IN ADULTS. C1 FRACTURES SHOULD BE PROMPTLY IDENTIFIED AND TREATED IN ALL PATIENTS ALTHOUGH THEY RARELY REQUIRE SURGERY. ANY BONY FRACTURE OF THE ATLAS MERITS A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE LIGAMENTOUS STRUCTURES BETWEEN O-C1 AND C1-C2, WHICH IN COMPARISON OFTEN CONFER A POOR PROGNOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF C1 VERTEBRAL FRACTURES AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.