title: Atlanto-axial dislocation in acute rheumatic fever. Case report.
abstract: A 10-year-old boy had a sore throat, followed in 4 weeks by acute rheumatic fever and in 6 weeks by atlanto-axial dislocation. Reduction of the dislocation by means of a halo vest relieved his pain, but the cervical spine remained unstable after 3 months of immobilization and required an occiput-C1-2 fusion and rib graft to stabilize the atlanto-axial joint. This is the eighth reported case of atlanto-axial dislocation associated with acute rheumatic fever. The features of previous cases are summarized and the clinical aspects, mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of atlanto-axial dislocation are reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications*; D013123:Spinal Fusion