Blunt cervical spine injury in adult polytrauma: incidence, injury patterns and predictors of significant ligament injury on CT

When fractures are absent, signs of significant ligament injury on CT at the craniocervical junction were increased basion dens interval and widened facet joints. In the subaxial cervical spine, >50% subluxation of a facet joint and obscured posterior paraspinal fat pad are indicators of significant ligament injury.