Delayed Presentation of Pediatric Atlantoaxial Subluxation with Cervical Myelopathy After Clavicle Fracture: A Case Report.

CASE: A 10-year-old girl developed persistent torticollis after surgery for a clavicular fracture. This condition was initially misattributed to muscle spasms and hardware irritation, leading to a delayed diagnosis. Eventually, the patient developed cervical myelopathy, and subsequent evaluation revealed atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) equivalent to Fielding and Hawkins type III, ultimately requiring emergency surgical fusion.

CONCLUSION

Persistent torticollis after pediatric clavicle fractures warrants careful evaluation for possible AARS. Awareness of this rare coexistence and timely imaging are essential to avoid invasive surgery and serious complications.