A case of progressive myelopathy with atlas hypoplasia in an infant: controversy in the surgical strategy.
METHODS
The authors report a case of isolated atlas hypoplasia in an 18-month-old infant who experienced delayed motor development confined to the lower extremities, in the absence of other clinical features. Nonetheless, MRI revealed the upper cervical cord to be highly compressed with a high signal intensity lesion apparent at the craniovertebral junction. The patient underwent atlas laminectomy in addition to occipital decompression, resulting in a good neurological recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate on the significance of this unique clinical presentation and discuss surgical strategies for this condition.
Fukuzumi
Yoko
Y
Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-shinbashi Minatoku, 105-8461, Tokyo, Japan. fukuzumi@jikei.ac.jp
Oi
Shizuo
S
Matsubara
Osamu
O
Kaito
Nobuyoshi
N
Tani
Satoshi
S
Abe
Toshiaki
T
D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods