PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R A Kaufman
AU  - C D Carroll
AU  - C R Buncher
TI  - Atlantooccipital junction: standards for measurement in normal children.
DP  - 1987 Nov 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 995--999
VI  - 8
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/8/6/995.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/8/6/995.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1987 Nov 01; 8
AB  - This study describes a simple method for measuring the distance between the occiput and atlas when a distraction-dislocation injury is suspected in a child. Measurements were made at five evenly spaced locations along the atlantooccipital joint on cross-table lateral skull radiographs in 100 normal children. These data were compared with similar measurements in eight patients with proved atlantooccipital dislocation. The mean normal measurement fell between 1.96-2.63 mm for all five points. For boys or girls aged 1-15 years, the normal distance should not exceed 5 mm at any point in the joint. The likelihood that any normal child will have a measurement greater than or equal to 4.5 mm at any point is between 0.4-5.85% (expected false-positive rate).