Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery  2014;6(1):96-100

doi:10.4055/cios.2014.6.1.96

Congenital Anomaly of the Atlas Misdiagnosed as Posterior Arch Fracture of the Atlas and Atlantoaxial Subluxation.

Yung PARK 1 ; Seong Min KIM ; Yun Tae LEE ; Ju Hyung YOO ; Hyun Chul OH ; Joong Won HA ; Seung Yong SUNG ; Han Kook YOON ; Jee Hoon CHANG ; Jeung Yeul JUNG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Congenital anomaly of the atlas; Posterior arch fracture; Atlantoaxial subluxation

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Partial or complete absence of the posterior arch of the atlas is a well-documented anomaly but a relatively rare condition. This condition is usually asymptomatic so most are diagnosed incidentally. There have been a few documented cases of congenital defects of the posterior arch of the atlas combined with atlantoaxial subluxation. We report a very rare case of congenital anomaly of the atlas combined with atlantoaxial subluxation, that can be misdiagnosed as posterior arch fracture.