• T M Link, G Schuierer, A Hufendiek, C Horch, and P E Peters.
• Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Munster, Germany.
• Radiology. 1995 Sep 1; 196 (3): 741-5.

PurposeTo evaluate the usefulness of routine performance of computed tomography (CT) of the craniocervical junction in unconscious patients with substantial head injury.Materials And MethodsIn a prospective study, CT of the head and the cervicocranium was performed in 202 patients with substantial cranial trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 3-6). Plain radiography was performed in all patients. Radiographs and CT scans were then blindly interpreted.ResultsTwenty-eight patients (13.9%) had C-1 or C-2 fractures; plain radiographs did not demonstrate cervical fractures in 11 of these patients. Nine patients (4.4%) had fractures of the occipital condyles; plain radiographs did not demonstrate occipital condyle fractures in eight of these patients.ConclusionBecause 5.4% of all patients had fractures of either C-1 or C-2 and 4.0% had occipital condyle fractures not seen at plain radiography, routine additional performance of CT of the craniocervical junction is useful in patients with substantial cranial trauma.

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