Bilateral occipital condylar fracture with associated haematomas

Occipital condylar fractures (OCFs) seem to be rare. The exact incidence is unknown, but a few studies reported a 3-4% incidence of OCFs in patients with severe head injury and altered Glasgow Coma Scale score. The low incidence of OCFs and missed diagnoses in these patients may result in late neurological deficits. We report the history of a patient with bilateral OCFs, a combined fracture of the anterior arcus of the atlas and associated retropharyngeal and epidural cervical haematomas, who presented without life-threatening symptoms or neurological deficits. © 2006 Am Soc Emergency Radiol.