# A Case of Initial Missed Diagnosis of Fatal Posterior Atlantoaxial Dislocation Without Odontoid Fracture

## TL;DR

This paper describes a rare case where a fatal spinal injury was initially missed in a patient with altered consciousness.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in highlighting the risk of delayed diagnosis of cervical spine injuries in unconscious patients.

## Key findings

- A case of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without odontoid fracture was reported.
- The patient's altered consciousness contributed to the initial missed diagnosis.
- The case underscores the importance of thorough cervical spine evaluation in unconscious patients.

## Abstract

We report a rare case of fatal posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without odontoid fracture. Attention should be paid to the possibility of delayed or missed diagnosis of cervical spine injury in patients with disturbance of consciousness.