Traumatic posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without neurological deficit: case report.

A case is presented in which a patient sustained a closed head injury with subsequent acute subdural hematoma and delayed posterior dislocation of the atlas without fracture of the odontoid process and with an intact C-1 arch. The subdural hematoma was treated operatively. The atlas dislocation was managed with closed reduction without manipulation and subsequent posterior fusion of C-1, C-2, and C-3. The patient was intact neurologically on admission and remained so throughout his hospitalization.