title: [Spinal stenosis at the level of atlas in a boy with Down syndrome. A case report and literature review].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The appearance of congenital anomalies at the level of atlas is frequent in patients with neural alterations, as well as in the Down syndrome. The presence of clinical stenosis for alteration in the posterior arch of C1 without a previous atlantoaxial subluxation hasn't been described in the literature thus far.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report an exceptional case of myelopathy due to compression at the level of the atlas in a 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome provoked by a developmental anomaly of the posterior arch of C1. A posterior laminectomy was achieved at that level with improvement of the previous symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have to pay special attention in children with syndromes associated with chondrogenesis alterations, as in the case of those with Down syndrome, to benefit from early treatment, since in most of the time they are diagnosed when symptoms are very severe.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mariapascualgallego@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pascual-Gallego
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budke
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villarejo
mesh_terms: D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed