Unusual pain due to unilateral facet degeneration at the C1-2 level.
OBJECTIVE
Neck pain is a common problem that may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues, bones and joints of the spine. However, upper neck and occipital pain syndrome due to unilateral idiopathic arthrosis of a C1-2 lateral articulation is a very rare condition.


METHODS
We describe two patients with unilateral arthrosis of a C1-2 lateral articulation who were successfully treated with C1-2 fusion.


RESULTS
The patients presented with severe headache and/or neck pain. The diagnosis was made with a careful history and imaging studies, including X-ray films, CT scans, and MRI studies. Posterior atlanto-axial transfacet screw fixation was performed in both patients. There were no surgical complications.


CONCLUSIONS
C1-2 fusion is necessary to relieve intractable pain after failure of conservative treatment and/or invasive pain procedures in unilateral C1-2 arthrosis.
Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelm University, Medical Faculty, Germany.
Nelly
N
Stemmler
Ihsan
I
Solaroglu
Ahmet Levent
AL
Aydin
Cengiz
C
Gomleksiz
Mehdi
M
Sasani
Tunc
T
Oktenoglu
Ali Fahir
AF
Ozer
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion