title: Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation in an adolescent: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation is rarely caused by trauma in adults. Usually, the treatment of choice is traction using Halo/Gardner-Wells fixation devices for up to six weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 19-year-old Caucasian woman with traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation. Early reduction three hours after trauma and immobilization using only a soft collar were performed and yielded very good clinical results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the adult population, atlantoaxial subluxation is a rare condition but is severe if untreated. Early treatment implies a non-surgical approach and a good outcome. Conservative treatment is the recommended first step for this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. georg.osterhoff@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Luis Enrique
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Meza Escobar
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osterhoff
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ossendorf
authors.forename: Guido A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Simmen
authors.forename: Clément Ml
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Werner