Classic but unexpected: a case of Jefferson fracture.
A man was found lying dead next to a ladder, with only a laceration surrounded by an abrasion visible upon external examination. No skull fractures were palpable. A CT scan and MRI showed a Jefferson fracture of the atlas, associated to a posterior displacement of the skull, a fracture of the dens of the axis, and fractures of the bodies of C5 and C6. Jefferson fractures typically result from a blow to the apex of the skull. In such cases, forensic pathologists should suspect the existence of a Jefferson fracture, particularly when no severe injuries are visible externally.
['Gassend|Jean-Loup|JL|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8954-313X', 'Braham|Mohamed Yassine|MY|', 'Vilarino|Raquel|R|', 'Magnin|Virginie|V|']
D006801:Humans D008297:Male D019838:Neck Injuries D012887:Skull Fractures D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries D016103:Spinal Fractures D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Jefferson fracture Forensic Atlas fracture Skull apex