Nontraumatic atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation: case report. 1998

S Hettiaratchy, and C Ning, and I Sabin
Department of Neurosurgery, Royal London Hospital, England.

OBJECTIVE Concomitant atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital subluxation resulting from any cause is extremely rare. We have found only five previously reported cases and describe another, suggesting a treatment plan. METHODS A 13-year-old female patient presented with a 3-month history of neck pain and decreased neck movements. All symptoms started after a localized neck infection had been treated successfully with antibiotics. There was no history of trauma. A diagnosis of postinfective atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation was made based on a plain roentgenogram and was confirmed based on a computed tomographic scan. METHODS The atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital subluxation was reduced during surgery. A posterior C1-C2 fixation was performed, and the atlanto-occipital joint was stabilized by means of a halo body jacket for 3 months. One year after removal of the jacket, all subluxation remained reduced and the patient retained significant neck movement. CONCLUSIONS Disruption of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex can result from relatively minor head and neck infections and should be suspected in children with persisting neck pain and decreased neck movements. It may not be necessary to perform an occipitoaxial fusion to treat these patients, and a more limited fusion may be successful.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D001863 Bone Screws Specialized devices used in ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY to repair bone fractures. Bone Screw,Screw, Bone,Screws, Bone
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
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001268 Atlanto-Axial Joint The joint involving the CERVICAL ATLAS and axis bones. Atlanto Axial Joint,Atlantoaxial Joint,Atlanto Axial Joints,Atlanto-Axial Joints,Atlantoaxial Joints,Joint, Atlanto Axial,Joint, Atlanto-Axial,Joint, Atlantoaxial,Joints, Atlanto Axial,Joints, Atlanto-Axial,Joints, Atlantoaxial
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
D013123 Spinal Fusion Operative immobilization or ankylosis of two or more vertebrae by fusion of the vertebral bodies with a short bone graft or often with diskectomy or laminectomy. (From Blauvelt & Nelson, A Manual of Orthopaedic Terminology, 5th ed, p236; Dorland, 28th ed) Spondylodesis,Spondylosyndesis,Fusion, Spinal,Fusions, Spinal,Spinal Fusions,Spondylodeses,Spondylosyndeses
D016025 Bone Transplantation The grafting of bone from a donor site to a recipient site. Grafting, Bone,Transplantation, Bone,Bone Grafting

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