[Cervico-occipital injury and bilateral paralysis of cranial nerve XII. Apropos of a case].

A patient with bilateral traumatic hypoglossal palsy is presented. Evaluation of the atlanto-occipital articulation is difficult. Prompt radiographic diagnosis of this injury can be made by computed tomography. In this case, there was bony avulsion of the alar ligament from the occipital condyle. We suggest a severe blow to the head in a lateral direction.