title: The surgical management of patients with rheumatoid cervical spine disease.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that commonly affects the cervical spine. This article reviews the incidence of spinal involvement, the clinical manifestations of spinal disease, and the types of instability patterns that may occur and their radiographic diagnosis. Appropriate guidelines for obtaining imaging studies and for surgical referral is also described. Finally, the role of surgical stabilization is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Spine Center, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gurley
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*