Rheumatoid backward dislocation of the atlas with compression of the spinal cord.
A 61-year-old man suffered a rheumatoid destruction of the dens of the C-2 vertebra with subsequent backward dislocation of the atlas resulting in tetraparesis. The clinical picture was consistent with a central spinal cord syndrome with motor impairment more of the upper than of the lower extremities. Reduction of the dislocation with skull traction followed by a posterior fixation from the occiput to C-3 resulted in a marked neurological restitution.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*