1. may be neurologically intact, therefore must be ruled out in any major trauma
2. bulbar-cervical dissociation
3. may have lower cranial nerve deficits (as well as VI palsies) ± cervical cord injury
4. worsening neurologic deficit with the application of cervical traction: check lateral C-spine films immediately after applying traction.
see Hypoglossal nerve palsy in a case of spontaneous atlantooccipital dislocation - a rare clinical finding in a rare clinical entity. And its complete recovery following corrective surgery 1).