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Emerg Med J 2006;23:e52 doi:10.1136/emj.2006.038257
  • Emergency casebook

Fractures of the atlas: can we rely on the NICE guidelines for imaging the cervical spine after head injury?

  1. B Barry,
  2. G George,
  3. H Oag,
  4. B Shafighian
  1. Horton Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 9AL, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Grizelda George
 Emergency Department, Horton Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 9AL, UK; grizelda.george{at}orh.nhs.uk
  • Accepted 10 May 2006

Abstract

We describe a patient who was not thought to fulfil the NICE criteria for imaging the cervical spine after head injury but who had two fractures of the atlas, thus rendering the vertebral ring unstable. The reasons for missing this injury in the emergency department are discussed.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

  • Informed consent was obtained for publication of the person’s details in this report

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