頭頸部：外傷

Skull and craniocervical junction trauma

小児期は骨および靱帯などの支持組織が脆弱であるため，成人よりも外傷による損傷を起こしやすいことは容易に想像できる。さらに，縫合線や成長板のように成人では問題とならない解剖構造があるため，異常かどうかを迷うことも多い。本稿では，頭頸部領域の小児の骨外傷のうち代表的なものをピックアップした。

Fracture patterns differ between children and adults. Infants are susceptible to linear fractures and depressed fractures, and diastatic skull fractures are specific to children. Additionally, in infants, distinguishing between accessory sutures and fractures can be problematic. At the craniovertebral junction, atlanto-occipital dissociation and atlantoaxial rotatory fixation are more prevalent in young children than in adults due to the fragility of the tissues. It is also important to be aware of the presence of underlying diseases that cause bone and soft tissue abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome.