Anteroposterior atlantoaxial subluxation in cervical spine osteoarthritis: case reports and review of the literature

J Rheumatol. 1999 Mar;26(3):687-91.

Abstract

Nontraumatic anteroposterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) has been described in several rheumatic or inherited disorders, especially rheumatoid arthritis and to a lesser extent the inflammatory spondyloarthropathies. We describe AAS secondary to osteoarthritis (OA) of the cervical spine in a 76-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman with severe cervical OA, symptomatic C1-C2 facet joints, and signs of generalized OA. Only 6 similar cases exist in the literature. OA should be added to the causes of AAS, and conversely AAS should be assessed in cases with severe OA of the upper cervical spine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atlanto-Axial Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Atlanto-Axial Joint / pathology*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Joint Dislocations / diagnostic imaging
  • Joint Dislocations / pathology*
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / pathology*
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed