Management of Unusual Atlantoaxial Dislocation.

STUDY

DESIGN

A case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the successful treatment of one posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without fracture and to review the relevant literature.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without fracture of the odontoid process is extremely rare. Management of these patients is still unknown.

METHODS

A posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without fracture in a 58-year-old man with incomplete quadriplegia was treated surgically with posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screws internal fixation and fusion after closed reduction. The images, treatment, and related literature are reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient had complete recovery of neurologic deficit and bony fusion of the atlantoaxial joint was identified on the follow-up computed tomography taken 3 months after posterior fixation. To our knowledge, no case of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation with neurologic deficit has been previously reported in English medical literature.

CONCLUSION

We described a rare case of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation with neurologic deficit. Treatment procedure of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation was presented.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.