Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine

CASE REPORT
Year
: 2023  |  Volume : 14  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 103--107

Our experiences in patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation: A case series with literature review


Abdoulhadi Daneshi1, Abolfazl Rahimizadeh2, Arash Fattahi1, Saina Darvishnia3, Omid Masoudi1, Seyed Mohammad Reza Mohajeri1 
1 Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Departments of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence Address:
Seyed Mohammad Reza Mohajeri
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Iran

Atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is an injury to the upper cervical spine that occurs after trauma. This injury is associated with a high mortality rate. According to studies, 8%–31% of deaths caused by accidents are due to AOD. Due to the improvement in medical care and diagnosis, the rate of related mortality has decreased. Five patients with AOD were evaluated. Two cases had type 1, one case had type 2, and two other patients had type 3 AOD. All patients had weakness in the upper and lower limbs and underwent surgery to fix the occipitocervical junction. Other complications in patients were hydrocephalus, 6 nerve palsy, and cerebellar infarction. All patients improved in follow-up examinations. AOD damage is divided into four groups: anterior, vertical, posterior, and lateral. The most common type of AOD is type 1 and the most instability is type 2. There are neurological and vascular injuries due to pressure on regional components; vascular injuries are associated with high mortality rate. In most patients, their symptoms improved after surgery. AOD requires early diagnosis and immobilization of the cervical spine along with maintaining the airway to save the patient's life. It is necessary to consider AOD in cases with neurological deficits or loss of consciousness in the emergency unit because earlier diagnosis could cause a wonderful improvement of the patient's prognosis.


How to cite this article:
Daneshi A, Rahimizadeh A, Fattahi A, Darvishnia S, Masoudi O, Mohajeri SM. Our experiences in patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation: A case series with literature review.J Craniovert Jun Spine 2023;14:103-107


How to cite this URL:
Daneshi A, Rahimizadeh A, Fattahi A, Darvishnia S, Masoudi O, Mohajeri SM. Our experiences in patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation: A case series with literature review. J Craniovert Jun Spine [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 3 ];14:103-107
Available from: https://www.jcvjs.com/article.asp?issn=0974-8237;year=2023;volume=14;issue=1;spage=103;epage=107;aulast=Daneshi;type=0