Occipital Condyle Fracture

Posted bythespinebookadminPosted inTopics, Trauma

Background 

  • Traumatic 
    • Bimodal usual 
  • CT Dx 
  • Flex ex radiographs for associated OC instability 
  • Fusion for OC instability, otherwise ortthosis only 
  • Incidence increase as more CT scans 

Anatomy 

  • Lots of flex ex 
  • Condyles on either side of foramen magnum 
  • Nerves nearby 
    • Cranial nerves (jugular foramen adjacent) 
      • 9 – Glossopharyngeal 
      • 10 – Vagus 
      • 11 – Accessory 
      • 12 – Hypoglossal 

Classification and Management 

  • Type 1 – impaction and comminution  
    • Collar orthososis 
  • Type 2 – shear – Stable 
    • Collar orthosis 
  • Type 3 – avulsion fracture alar ligament attached 
    • Stable – Collar 
    • Unstable (Associated OC disruption) 
      • CO-C2