CT Evaluation of Osseous Trauma at the Craniocervical Junction: A Pattern-Based Overview

Osseous trauma of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) can present with subtle imaging findings that demand a structured and confident approach to CT interpretation. This video article presents a pattern-based overview of traumatic bony injuries affecting the CCJ, illustrated through multiplanar CT imaging and 3D anatomical models. Common injury types, including craniocervical dissociation, occipital condyle fractures, atlas fractures, odontoid process fractures, and axis spondylolysis are reviewed with emphasis on their appearance in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. Fracture patterns and alignment abnormalities are reinforced with educational illustrations that complement real CT datasets, helping viewers internalize spatial relationships and diagnostic features. Designed for radiology residents and early-career neuroradiologists, this video provides a practical framework for evaluating high-energy cervical trauma using CT, with a focus on accuracy, pattern recognition, and anatomical clarity. VIDEO.