Chronic Atlantoaxial Subluxation Research Articles

Traditional Chinese medicine manipulation for the restoration of chronic atlantoaxial subluxation in children:a case report

Traditional Chinese medicine manipulation for the restoration of chronic atlantoaxial subluxation in children:a case report

Malunion in a Self-stabilized Fracture of the Odontoid Process Type II with a Chronic Anterior Atlantoaxial Subluxation in a Neurologically Intact Patient: A Case Report.

Atalanto-occipital dislocations with type II fractures of the odontoid process are rare, reporting 7 cases for every 784 upper cervical spine injuries, an incidence of <0.3% and are related to a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Regarding C2 fractures, the most common are in the odontoid process, representing 7%, classified by Anderson and D'Alonso according to their level, with the highest rate of pseudarthrosis in zone II of up to 85% are caused mainly by car accidents. In the acute event, there is no consensus regarding its optimal management. We performed a complete anamnesis and a physical examination in our institution. A systematic review of case reports was carried out with the keywords "mal-union, type II odontoid process fracture, chronic atlantoaxial subluxation" in four different databases, and a comparative analysis of the cases found was performed. There were not found identical cases to the one in our report, 9 similar case reports were published with the general differences of a pseudarthrosis of the odontoid process, as well as neurological alterations in symptomatic patients and the consequent surgical treatment. Observing a patient with a type II odontoid process fracture consolidating viciously and a stable anterior atlantoaxial subluxation without neurological alterations is rare. We determined to maintain expectant management with annual follow-up.

Retro-odontoid cystic mass treated by laminectomy and C1-C2 fixation.

Retro-odontoid cysts associated with chronic atlantoaxial subluxation are extremely rare. This article describes a case of retro-odontoid cystic mass associated with chronic atlantoaxial subluxation and its management with posterior C1 and partial C2 laminectomy and C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation without resection of the retro-odontoid cyst. A 64-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of neck pain, hand and foot paresthesia. Atlantoaxial instability associated with a retro-odontoid cystic mass was found in the imaging. The patient underwent posterior C1 and partial C2 laminectomy and C1-C2 pedicle screws fixation without resection of the retro-odontoid cyst. During the 24 months followup period, the cyst disappeared completely and the patient remained symptom free and returned to independent daily living. These findings suggest that posterior laminectomy and fixation without resection of the retro-odontoid cyst is relatively simple and safe and the results are satisfactory.

Pseudotumor retroodontoideo en un paciente con hiperostosis esquelética idiopática difusa

Retro-odontoid pseudotumors are lesions caused by inflammatory granulation or reactive soft tissue hypertrophy from chronic atlantoaxial subluxation. However, one-third of the cases reported in the medical literature did not show atlantoaxial instability clearly. The authors present the case of a 76-year-old man previously diagnosed with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis who presented with severe progressive myelopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging of his cervical spine revealed a retro-odontoid predural mass, which caused a severe compression of the cervical spinal cord. The patient underwent a posterior laminectomy of the atlas and an occipitocervical fusion. After surgery, the pseudotumor was considerably smaller and the neurological symptoms improved.

Posterior C1-2 Fixation With Cancellous Screw and Rod System for Retro-odontoid Pseudotumor Associated With Chronic Atlantoaxial Subluxation-Technical Note-

Posterior C1-2 fixation with individual screw placement in C-1 and C-2 was performed in three patients presenting with progressive myelopathy caused by retro-odontoid pseudotumor associated with chronic atlantoaxial subluxation. Postoperatively, all patients demonstrated neurological recovery with gradually diminishing pseudotumor. Posterior C1-2 fixation with the cancellous screw and rod system is a safe and reliable method, and can be used to treat retro-odontoid pseudotumor associated with chronic atlantoaxial subluxation.

Retro-odontoid soft tissue mass associated with atlantoaxial subluxation in an elderly patient: a case report

BACKGROUND We present the case of an elderly patient with a retro-odontoid soft tissue mass associated with atlanto-axial subluxation. CASE DESCRIPTION A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with progressive motor weakness in his right arm and neck pain. Radiological examinations revealed atlantoaxial subluxation and diffuse degenerative changes. Cervical MRI revealed a syrinx at the C1 level and a retro-odontoid soft tissue mass that severely compressed the spinal cord. The mass was of low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Conservative therapy could not stop the progression of his symptoms, so posterior decompression via a laminectomy of C1 and occipitocervical fixation was performed. These procedures resulted in an improvement of his neurological condition and in reduction of the mass and the compression of the spinal cord. CONCLUSION The patient lacked any specific conditions that might have caused chronic atlantoaxial subluxation. The degenerative changes alone might have provoked chronic atlantoaxial subluxation and a subsequent retro-odontoid soft tissue mass. In patients with this condition, posterior fixation without direct removal of the mass should be the first choice for surgical intervention.