Biomaterial Database

Atlanto axial rotatory fixation--a cause of torticollis. 1979

M W Fidler, and J de Lange

Atlanto-axial rotatory fixation is a rare but important cause of persistent torticollis. The diagnosis is confirmed by careful radiological examination of the atlanto-axial joint, also employing tomography if necessary. Treatment is skull traction in an attempt to improve the position followed by posterior atlanto-axial fusion to prevent further, and potentially disastrous, displacement. Atlanto-axial dislocation or subluxation should be looked for in all cases of acute torticollis, when reduction by traction will most likely be successful and prevent the development of atlanto-axial rotatory fixation and the associated persistent torticollis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004204	Joint Dislocations	Displacement of bones from their normal positions at a joint.	Inferior Dislocation,Joint Subluxations,Luxatio Erecta,Dislocation, Joint,Dislocations, Joint,Inferior Dislocations,Joint Dislocation,Joint Subluxation,Subluxation, Joint,Subluxations, Joint
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001269	Atlanto-Occipital Joint	The point of articulation between the OCCIPITAL BONE and the CERVICAL ATLAS.	Atloido-Occipital Joint,Atlanto Occipital Joint,Atlanto-Occipital Joints,Atloido Occipital Joint,Atloido-Occipital Joints,Joint, Atlanto-Occipital,Joint, Atloido-Occipital,Joints, Atlanto-Occipital,Joints, Atloido-Occipital
D014103	Torticollis	A symptom, not a disease, of a twisted neck. In most instances, the head is tipped toward one side and the chin rotated toward the other. The involuntary muscle contractions in the neck region of patients with torticollis can be due to congenital defects, trauma, inflammation, tumors, and neurological or other factors.	Cervical Dystonia,Spasmodic Torticollis,Wryneck,Torticollis, Intermittent,Torticollis, Psychogenic,Cervical Dystonias,Dystonia, Cervical,Dystonias, Cervical,Intermittent Torticollis,Psychogenic Torticollis,Torticollis, Spasmodic
D014143	Traction	The pull on a limb or a part thereof. Skin traction (indirect traction) is applied by using a bandage to pull on the skin and fascia where light traction is required. Skeletal traction (direct traction), however, uses pins or wires inserted through bone and is attached to weights, pulleys, and ropes. (From Blauvelt & Nelson, A Manual of Orthopaedic Terminology, 5th ed)	Tractions