title: Os odontoideum: a significant radiographic finding.
abstract: Os odontoideum can lead to instability of the atlantoaxial joint and places the spinal cord at significant risk for acute catastrophic events after minor trauma or chronic neurological change. We present two cases of os odontoideum in pediatric patients that were not appreciated at earlier remote imaging but were, in retrospect, detectable. One patient presented with an acute spinal cord injury. Incorporating assessment of dens integrity into the evaluation algorithm for all pediatric cervical spine studies should lead to early detection of os odontoideum lesions and allow referral to appropriate clinical spinal services for evaluation, surveillance and possible surgery to prevent future complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, BC Children's Hospital, A234-4480 Oak St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3V4.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Choit
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis