Occipital condylar fractures: A review

The purpose of this review article is to summarize the epidemiology, pertin ent anatomy, mechanisms of injury, and classification systems of occipital condylar fractures (OCFs), as well as their clinical presentation and scree ning, the importance of computed tomography (CT) for detection, and current treatment options. The authors emphasize the rate of occurrence of OCFs, w hich may be detected in as many as 16% of patients with craniocervical inju ry. Clinical presentation is not specific, and OCF is not readily diagnosed at physical examination. Failure to diagnose may result in substantial mor bidity, and thus accurate diagnosis is mandatory for both therapeutic and m edicolegal implications. The diagnosis is most likely to be made with CT. T hin-section CT technique is the method of choice to evaluate the traumatize d craniocervical junction. OCFs should be suspected in all patients sustain ing high-energy blunt trauma to the head and/or upper cervical spine, resul ting from axial loading, lateral bending and/or rotation, and/or direct blo w. Besides a CT study assessing potential intracranial injuries, these pati ents require CT of the craniocervical junction. Radiologists should be awar e of the types of OCFs and associated injuries.