Painful torticollis due to tubercular atlantoaxial rotatory fixation: A case report

Abolfazl Rahimizadeh; Walter Williamson; Shaghayegh Rahimizadeh; Mahan Amirzadeh

doi:10.25259/SNI_663_2020

Painful torticollis due to tubercular atlantoaxial rotatory fixation: A case report

Surg Neurol Int. 2020 Dec 16:11:440. doi: 10.25259/SNI_663_2020. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Abolfazl Rahimizadeh¹, Walter Williamson¹, Shaghayegh Rahimizadeh¹, Mahan Amirzadeh¹

Affiliation

¹ Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Pars Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Tubercular atlantoaxial, rotary dislocation warranting fixation (AARF) is an extremely rare event.

Case description: AARF was suspected in a 23-year-old female with painful torticollis. When diagnostic studies documented unilateral destruction of the left lateral mass of the atlas, she underwent removal of the lateral mass, reduction of the deformity, and C1-C2 fusion/reconstruction utilizing an iliac bone graft. Laboratory tests and the pathologic surveys were all consistent with the diagnosis of underlying tuberculosis.

Conclusion: We present a case of tubercular atlantoaxial, rotary dislocation (AARF) in a patient who warranted C1-C2 decompression, reduction, and fusion.

Keywords: Atlantoaxial dislocation; Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation; Atlas; Craniovertebral junction; Tuberculosis; Upper cervical.

Publication types

Case Reports