title: Posttraumatic atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation in a healthy adult patient: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation (AARD) is a rare complication in adults usually leading to pain, spinal cord injury, or death. Clinical and radiological diagnosis is difficult and often delayed. We report a rare case of posttraumatic AARD in a neurological intact 27-year-old male in which initial radiographic evaluation was negative. A computed tomography (CT) scan was promptly done because the patient showed a severe torticollis. Therefore, early diagnosis, immobilisation, and surgical fusion and arthrodesis were performed. After surgery, cervical pain and torticollis were resolved and the patient remained neurologically intact with a CT scan documentation of fusion at the 3-year followup.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University-Hospital S. Anna, 8 Via Aldo Moro, Cona, 44124 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcati
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarubbo