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.