title: Grisel's syndrome: a rare complication following traditional uvulectomy.
abstract: A case is reported of an eight-month-old female patient who had traditional uvulectomy for sore throat complicated by Grisel's syndrome. She was admitted into the hospital one week after uvulectomy with Torticolis. Grisel's syndrome is a nontraumatic atlantoaxial subluxation, usually secondary of an infection or an inflammation at the head and neck area, or after surgery in the same area. Patients typically suffer from painful torticollis. Diagnosis of Grisel's syndrome is largely based on suspicion of the patient who has recently undergone surgery or has a history of an infection in head and neck area. Physical examination and imaging techniques assist in diagnosis. Thus, clinicians should be aware of acute nontraumatic torticollis if patient had a recent surgery in the head or neck area or undergone an upper respiratory tract infection. In this paper, a case of an eight-month-old female patient who had Grisel's syndrome after uvulectomy is discussed. This case is reported to highlight this neurogical threatening complication following traditional uvulectomy as well as highlighting the unnecessary morbidity and mortality associated with this persisting mode of treatment in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdelhakim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elyajouri
authors.affiliation: Pneumo-allergology unit of Rabat children hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed V University Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdellah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assermouh
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abilkacem
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Aomar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agadr
authors.affiliation: Pneumo-allergology unit of Rabat children hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed V University Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Chafiq
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahraoui
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome; D014103:Torticollis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Grisel′s syndrome; torticollis; uvulectomy