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Year 2017, Volume 11 , Issue 3, Pages 141 - 145 2017-12-15

The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury

Gergely Bodon [1] , Paul J. Choi [2] , Joe Iwanaga [3] , R. Shane Tubbs [4]

Abstract

The atlanto-occipital joint (AOJ) is an important transitional region, which supports and stabilizes the cranium to the spine

with its surrounding ligamentous structures. An injury to this joint is often accompanied by brain injury and may be fatal. A

good understanding of the anatomy of this joint is required to timely diagnose an AOJ instability and intervene via the means

of an immediate fixation. We discuss the normal anatomy of and anatomical variations within the occipito-atlantoaxial complex,

the classification systems to describe its disruption, and its clinical significance.

Keywords

anatomy; craniocervical junction; injury; ligaments; trauma

References

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  • 2. Netter F. Atlas of human anatomy. 6th ed. Philadelphia (PA), USA: Saunders; 2014.
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  • 5. Tubbs RS, Hallock JD, Radcliff V, Naftel RP, Mortazavi M, Shoja MM, Salter EG, Acakpo-Satchivi L, Wellons JC 3rd, Blount JP, Oakes WJ. Ligaments of the craniocervical junction. J Neurosurg Spine 2011;14:697–709.
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  • 8. Tubbs RS, Kelly DR, Humphrey ER, Chua GD, Shoja MM, Salter EG, Acakpo-Satchivi L, Wellons JC 3rd, Blount JP, Oakes WJ. The tectorial membrane: anatomical, biomechanical, and histological analysis. Clin Anat 2007;20:382–6.
  • 9. Tubbs RS, Stetler W, Shoja MM, Loukas M, Hansasuta A, Liechty P, Acakpo-Satchivi L, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Salter EG, Oakes WJ. The lateral atlantooccipital ligament. Surg Radiol Anat 2007;29:219– 23.
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  • 12. Horn EM, Feiz-Erfan I, Lekovic GP, Dickman CA, Sonntag VK, Theodore N. Survivors of occipitoatlantal dislocation injuries: imaging and clinical correlates. J Neurosurg Spine 2007;6:113–20.
  • 13. Traynelis VC, Marano GD, Dunker RO, Kaufman HH. Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation. Case report. J Neurosurg 1986;65:863– 70.
  • 14. Harris JH, Carson GC, Wagner LK, Kerr N. Radiologic diagnosis of traumatic occipitovertebral dissociation: 2. Comparison of three methods of detecting occipitovertebral relationships on lateral radiographs of supine subjects. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1994;162:887–92.
  • 15. Dahdaleh NS, Khanna R, Menezes AH, Smith ZA, Viljoen SV, Koski TR, Hitchon PW, Dlouhy BJ. The application of the revised condyle-C1 interval method to diagnose traumatic atlanto-occipital dissociation in adults. Global Spine J 2016;6:529–34.
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Details

Subjects Health Care Sciences and Services
Journal Section Reviews
Authors

Author: Gergely Bodon
Country: United States

Author: Paul J. Choi
Country: United States

Author: Joe Iwanaga
Country: United States

Author: R. Shane Tubbs
Country: United States
Dates

Publication Date : December 15, 2017

Cite

Bibtex @research article { anatomy385949, journal = {Anatomy}, issn = {1307-8798}, eissn = {1308-8459}, address = {}, publisher = {Turkish Society of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy (TSACA)}, year = {2017}, volume = {11}, pages = {141 - 145}, doi = {}, title = {The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury}, key = {cite}, author = {Bodon, Gergely and Choi, Paul J. and Iwanaga, Joe and Tubbs, R. Shane} }
APA Bodon, G , Choi, P , Iwanaga, J , Tubbs, R . (2017). The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury. Anatomy , 11 (3) , 141-145 . Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/anatomy/issue/34659/385949
MLA Bodon, G , Choi, P , Iwanaga, J , Tubbs, R . "The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury". Anatomy 11 (2017 ): 141-145 <https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/anatomy/issue/34659/385949>
Chicago Bodon, G , Choi, P , Iwanaga, J , Tubbs, R . "The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury". Anatomy 11 (2017 ): 141-145
RIS TY - JOUR T1 - The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury AU - Gergely Bodon , Paul J. Choi , Joe Iwanaga , R. Shane Tubbs Y1 - 2017 PY - 2017 N1 - DO - T2 - Anatomy JF - Journal JO - JOR SP - 141 EP - 145 VL - 11 IS - 3 SN - 1307-8798-1308-8459 M3 - UR - Y2 - 2017 ER -
EndNote %0 Anatomy The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury %A Gergely Bodon , Paul J. Choi , Joe Iwanaga , R. Shane Tubbs %T The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury %D 2017 %J Anatomy %P 1307-8798-1308-8459 %V 11 %N 3 %R %U
ISNAD Bodon, Gergely , Choi, Paul J. , Iwanaga, Joe , Tubbs, R. Shane . "The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury". Anatomy 11 / 3 (December 2017): 141-145 .
AMA Bodon G , Choi P , Iwanaga J , Tubbs R . The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury. Anatomy. 2017; 11(3): 141-145.
Vancouver Bodon G , Choi P , Iwanaga J , Tubbs R . The atlanto-occipital joint: a concise review of its anatomy and injury. Anatomy. 2017; 11(3): 145-141.
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