Utility of post mortem computed tomography in clivus fracture diagnosis. Case illustration and literature review

Abstract

Clivus fractures are usually associated with head blunt trauma due to traffic accident and falls. A 23–year-old man died immediately after a smash-up while he was stopping on his motorcycle. Post-mortem Computed tomography (PMCT), performed before autopsy, revealed a complex basilar skull base fractures associated with brainstem and cranio-vertebral junction injuries, improving the diagnostic performance of conventional autopsy. Imaging data were re-assessable and PMCT offers the possibility to perform multiplanar and volume rendered reconstructions, increasing forensic medicine knowledge related to traumatic injuries.