Occipital condyle fractures.

STANDARDS: There is insufficient evidence to support diagnostic standards.

GUIDELINES: Computed tomographic imaging is recommended for establishing the diagnosis of occipital condyle fractures. Clinical suspicion should be raised by the presence of one or more of the following criteria: blunt trauma patients sustaining high-energy craniocervical injuries, altered consciousness, occipital pain or tenderness, impaired cervical motion, lower cranial nerve paresis, or retropharyngeal soft tissue swelling.

OPTIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging is recommended to assess the integrity of the craniocervical ligaments.

STANDARDS: There is insufficient evidence to support treatment standards.

GUIDELINES: There is insufficient evidence to support treatment guidelines.

OPTIONS: Treatment with external cervical immobilization is recommended.