title: Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation presenting with Dysphagia as the chief complaint: a case report.
abstract: We report a patient with traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation who presented with dysphagia as the chief complaint. A 59-year-old man complained of swallowing difficulty for 2 months after trauma to the neck. On physical examination, there was atrophy of the right sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles, and the tongue was deviated to the right. In a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, penetration and aspiration were not seen, food residue remained in the right vallecula and pyriform sinus, and there was decreased motion of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx. Electromyography confirmed a right spinal accessory nerve lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed atlanto-occipital dislocation. Dysphagia in atlanto-occipital dislocation is induced by medullary compression and lower cranial nerve injury. Therefore, in survivors who are diagnosed with atlanto-occipital dislocation, any neurological symptoms should be carefully evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Eun Hi
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ka Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ah Ra
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Atlanto-occipital joint; Cranial nerves; Dysphagia