title: Resolution of a periodontoid rheumatoid pannus mass in an elderly patient treated with a rigid cervical collar: A case report and literature review.
abstract: In patients with C2 rheumatoid pannus with spinal cord compression the treatment of choice is extensive surgery either through a transoral resection of the dens axis or a dorsal stabilisation, or both. We present a case of an 11-mm rheumatoid pannus with significant compression of the spinal cord, which failed surgical treatment with respect to dorsal stabilisation. Therefore, rigid cervical collar for 8 weeks followed by soft collar for another 4 weeks was chosen as a treatment option. During the follow-up period of 1 year, the pannus reduced significantly and the spinal cord decompressed. In cases where surgery is not an option or is technically very demanding, the alternative of cervical collar immobilisation is a satisfying option.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. oseniabidemi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abidemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oseni
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kakavas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petridis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome