Fracture of atlas (C1) - Gehweiler classification
The Gehweiler classification divides fractures of the first cervical vertebra into five types. Type III is also refered to as Jefferson fracture. The classical Jefferson fracture is a four part fracture, where both the anterior and the posterior arch is fractured twice, but fractures with two or three fracture parts may also occur.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Type I | fracture of the anterior arch |
| Type II | fracture of the posterior arch |
| Type III | combined fracture of both the anterior and the posterior arch = Jefferson fracture |
| Type IV | fracture of massa lateralis |
| Type V | fracture of the transverse process |
References:
1. Gehweiler JA, Osborne RL, Becker RF. The radiology of vertebral trauma. Saunders; 1980.
2. Gehweiler JA, Duff DE, Martinez S, Miller MD, Clark WM. Fractures of the atlas vertebra. Skeletal Radiol. 1976 Dec 1;1(2):97–102
3. Suchomel P, Choutka O. Reconstruction of Upper Cervical Spine and Craniovertebral Junction. Springer; 2010.
Updated 23/8/2013 23:06 by Lambert