What trauma would be induced from #3?

• A. Left torsion
• B. Right torsion
• C. Inferior vertical strain
• D. Left lateral strain

Answer: (A)

Trauma can create a torsional pattern in the cranial system, where the sphenoid and occiput rotate in opposite directions about the sphenobasilar axis. The name of the torsion reflects the direction the sphenoid rotates. For a left torsion, the sphenoid rotates to the left while the occiput rotates to the right. The described #3 trauma would produce that opposite-rotation pattern, so the induced dysfunction is left torsion.

Right torsion would mean the sphenoid rotates right and the occiput left. Inferior vertical strain involves vertical displacement of the basis whether through the SBS axis rather than opposite lateral rotation, and a left lateral strain involves lateral distortion of skull bones rather than the specific opposite-rotation relationship of a torsion.