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. 1990 Sep;11(3):193-7.
doi: 10.1097/00000433-199009000-00003.

Atlanto-occipital disarticulation. Accident characteristics

S L Tepper  1 , C L Fligner, D T Reay
Affiliations

Atlanto-occipital disarticulation. Accident characteristics

S L Tepper et al. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1990 Sep.

Abstract

A retrospective study of cases of atlanto-occipital disarticulation was conducted to describe incident characteristics: 24 cases were identified, including nine motor vehicle drivers, two passengers, seven pedestrians, and five motorcyclists; one other person had fallen four stories. The highest rates were found among motorcyclists and pedestrians. Atlanto-occipital disarticulations occur in high-energy impacts and collisions and are associated with aortic laceration in 25% and basilar skull fracture in 21% of such cases. Current restraint systems and motorcycle helmets do not appear to prevent this generally rapidly fatal injury.

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