Addressing a Gap in Diagnostic Imaging of Major Stabilizing Ligaments in the Cervicocranial Junction

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - June 23, 2025 - PRLog -- A silent diagnostic blind spot may be contributing to prolonged upper quarter pain in patients worldwide. The region in question is the Cervicocranial Junction (CCJ)—the location between the base of the skull and the upper cervical spine—and specifically, its major stabilizing ligaments.

Despite CCJ ligamentous injuries being implicated in persistent symptoms like headaches, neck stiffness, facial pain, and jaw dysfunction, they remain chronically underdiagnosed. The reason? Current imaging modalities such as MRI and CT struggle to consistently capture this complex anatomical zone in a weight-bearing mode.

The Diagnostic Challenge

The CCJ comprises the Occiput, Atlas (C1), and Axis (C2)—highly mobile, tightly integrated structures surrounded by dense connective and neurovascular networks. Accurate diagnosis of ligament injuries in this region demands precise head positioning across three rotational axes (pitch, roll, and yaw) during X-ray imaging.

Traditional imaging methods fall short due to:

• Lack of consistent head alignment during neutral and open-mouth X-ray views
  
  
• Limited visualization of soft tissue ligaments
  
  
• High patient radiation exposure during CT scans
  
  
• Motion artifacts in MRI during long-duration upright scanning
  
  

As a result, clinicians are often left without objective imaging evidence of CCJ dysfunction—impacting everything from diagnosis and treatment planning to legal validation of injury.

A Vision for Better Imaging

Recognizing this unmet need, Dr. Albert Davydov, DDS, a chronic pain specialist and inventor, has led a multidisciplinary team to develop a novel approach that assists in orthogonal imaging of the CCJ during weight-bearing X-ray studies. This AI-based solution is designed to:

• Enable real-time precise control of head alignment without manual intervention
  
  
• Enable  reproducibility
  
  
• Integrate seamlessly with any existing X-ray machine

Dr. Davydov, who also manages cases involving Cervicocranial-Mandibular Chronic Pain Syndrome, emphasizes that "standardizing head alignment is a fundamental prerequisite to properly assessing the CCJ major stabilizing ligaments — and we now have a way to do it consistently."

Looking Ahead

This effort is part of a broader mission to support clinicians in obtaining inter-rater reliable, weight-bearing diagnostic X-ray imaging of hard-to-visualize ligament injuries—improving care pathways in neurology, rehabilitation, spine clinics, and whiplash-focused pain practices.

For clinical inquiries or collaboration opportunities, visit:
🌐 www.thesmartxray.com
📩 info@thesmartxray.com