TRANSORAL GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE ATLANTOAXIAL COMPLEX - REPORT OF 5 CASES

Although there has been a rise in the incidence of gunshot wounds to t he spine in the United States, involvement of the upper cervical spine , i.e., the atlanto-axial complex, remains rare. Management strategies for these types of injuries come from wartime as well as civilian exp erience, however, they are not uniformly agreed upon. Treatment strate gies are aimed at both stabilization of bony structures and preservati on of neurologic function. This report documents five neurologically i ntact patients who sustained gunshot wounds to the atlanto-axial compl ex, their management, and follow-up results.