title: Progressive idiopathic anterior dislocation of the upper cervical spine with severe myelopathy.
abstract: Three unusual and rare cases are reported with progressive anterior dislocation of the cervical spine of unknown etiology causing severe myelopathy. Spinal pathology was confined to a single level and at different locations in each case. Narrowing of the spinal canal resulted in three different neurological syndromes, each requiring a different operative approach: one anterior, one posterior, and one both. Two patients made complete functional recovery. One patient died 3 days after operation of aspiration pneumonia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery