Posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without fracture

Abstract

Posterior dislocation of the atlas onto the axis without related fracture of the odontoid process is a very rare traumatic condition of which five cases have been previously reported.

The authors present a sixth case in which management was different from the others. The patient was successfully treated by open reduction of the dislocation and C1–2 transarticular screw fixation. The rarity of the lesion, the differences in diagnostic studies, and the successful treatment by safe intraoperative reduction and fixation are factors of interest in this case.