Foramen magnum stenosis in homozygous achondroplasia.
A 4-month-old female with homozygous achondroplasia and daytime apnea was found to have a small foramen magnum by computerized tomography. Following suboccipital craniectomy and C1-C2 laminectomy respiratory problems did not recur during a 7 month post-operative period. We suggest that the respiratory problems in homozygous achondroplasia may be due to brainstem compression from an abnormally small foramen magnum.
D000130:Achondroplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000601:surgery; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000601:surgery; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed