Occipital condyle fracture in a victim of a motor vehicle collision

J Emerg Med. 2006 Oct;31(3):259-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.12.023.

Abstract

Occipital condyle fractures are rarely reported in the Emergency Medicine literature. It is unclear whether these fractures are rare or under-diagnosed. Occipital condyle fractures are associated with high-energy blunt trauma with significant cranial-cervical torque or axial loading. We report a case of a female patient with an occipital condyle fracture. The patient only complained of shoulder pain, but was found to have high cervical spine tenderness, after a moderate-speed front-end motor vehicle collision. Initial cervical spine radiographs were non-diagnostic. Computed tomography of the cervical spine demonstrated a non-displaced occipital condyle fracture. Conservative management with a semi-rigid cervical collar was successful in treating this patient's fracture. A review of the literature covers the diagnosis, radiographic findings, and management of this fracture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fracture Fixation / methods
  • Fractures, Bone / classification
  • Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Bone / therapy*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / diagnostic imaging*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / therapy
  • Humans
  • Occipital Bone / injuries*
  • Skull Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Skull Fractures / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed