Cervical spondylitis as a complication of secondary cleft palate surgery--a rare variety of the "maladie de Grisel". Case report.
Spontaneous atlanto-axial dislocation, due to metastatic lymphogenous infection and rupture of the transverse ligament is a well-known but rare complication of nasopharyngeal infections and/or operations. Previously one such case has been reported following a velopharyngeal flap (distally based) in a child with cleft palate. This is a report of two adult cleft patients with spondylitis of C III resulting in spontaneous fusion of C II-III, following a combined (cranially based) velopharyngeal flap and a dynamic muscle sphincter operation in one stage. Prolonged postoperative pain and stiffness of the neck should make one suspect this rare complication.
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation / Q000009:adverse effects; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000209:etiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps