Blunt traumatic injuries of the craniocervical junction in adults; appearances on cross-sectional imaging.

Blunt traumatic injuries of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) comprise an important subset of cervical spine injuries associated with high morbidity and mortality. An anatomical understanding of the CCJ, as well as a sound knowledge of the appearances of CCJ injuries on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are crucial to determine the degree and extent of pathology and guide clinical management. In this article we review the cross-sectional imaging features of blunt traumatic CCJ injuries in adults, highlighting the relevant CCJ anatomy and using illustrative cases from our major trauma centres.