Traumatic atlanto-occipital luxation. Value of new radiologic signs (apropos of 2 cases)
Roy-Camille, R.; Benazet, J.P.; Saillant, G.; Henry, P.; Mamoudy, P.; Léonard, P.
Revue de Chirurgie Orthopedique et Reparatrice de l'Appareil Moteur 72(4): 303-309
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-1040 PMID: 3809648 Document Number: 268821
Two cases atlanto-occipital dislocation with survival are reported. The displacement was anterior. One case was associated only with some pyramidal signs and was diagnosed fourteen months after the injury. The other was associated with immediate tetraplegia. Both cases were treated by occipitocervical fusion with plate fixation. The second case was reduced during operation. A review of the literature has shown that dislocation with anterior displacement is more severe than with posterior displacement. The diagnosis is always difficult. The authors show the importance of certain radiological signs such as the curved anterior line joining the odontoid process to the occiput. The need to reduce the displacement in old lesions is discussed.