UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Ct scan visual diagnosis

Category: Trauma

Keywords: c-spine, fracture, Burst (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/6/2024 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 9/16/2024)
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Question

Identify this radiographic finding:

Answer

"Jefferson fracture is the eponymous name given to a burst fracture of the atlas. It was originally described as a four-part fracture with double fractures through the anterior and posterior arches, but three-part and two-part fractures have also been described.

50% are associated with other cervical spine injuries 

33% are associated with a C2 fracture 

25-50% of young children have a concurrent head injury 

blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI): vertebral artery injury 

extracranial cranial nerve injury" 1.

References

  1. Agrawal R, Knipe H, Deng F, et al. Jefferson fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Sep 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1534
  2. Axial computed tomography demonstrating unstable C1 burst fracture with... | Download Scientific Diagram (researchgate.net)