A Case of Odontoid Fracture in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Author:
Tae Hwan KIM
1
;
Dong Yook KIM
;
Jae Bum JUN
;
Sung Soo JUNG
;
In Hong LEE
;
Sang Cheol BAE
;
Dae Hyun YOO
;
Seong Hoon OH
;
Kyung Bin JOO
;
Seong Yoon KIM
Author Information
1. Rheumatism Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Odontoid process;
Fracture
- MeSH:
Aging;
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*;
Diagnosis;
Humans;
Odontoid Process;
Osteoporosis;
Prognosis;
Spine;
Synovitis
- From:The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association
1995;2(2):197-201
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
It's now well recognized that the cervical spine is commonly affected in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and that subluxation of the atlas is frequently present and may occasionally be fatal. It is not widely appreciated, however, that some rheumatoid patients may develop fractures of the odontoid process in association with relatively minimal trauma or no trauma at all. This is a fracture caused by erosion and osteoporosis of the odontoid process due to rheumatoid synovitis, aging and steroid therapy. In addition, another cause is a dynamic load produced from the instability accompanying atlantoaxial subluxation working on the odontoid in cervical extension. We evaluated a patient with RA who had a fracture of the odontoid process. Following diagnosis she underwent surgery for which the prognosis was excellent.
