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Book

Atlantoaxial Instability

Jordan Lacy  1 , Jitin Bajaj  2 , Christopher C. Gillis  3
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Atlantoaxial Instability

Jordan Lacy et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The atlantoaxial joint is the most mobile joint, with several critical neurovascular structures traversing through it.The atlantoaxial segment consists of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) and forms a complex transitional structure bridging the occiput and cervical spine. The functional result of the joint is two-fold: (1) providing support for the occiput and (2) providing the greatest range of motion and flexibility possible while maintaining stability. The instability in this joint is usually congenital, but in adults, it may be due to an acute traumatic event or degenerative disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Jordan Lacy declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Jitin Bajaj declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Christopher Gillis declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Scholz C, Klingler JH, Scheiwe C, Naseri Y, Masalha W, Hubbe U. Atlantoaxial Instability in Patients Older Than 70 Years: What Is the Outcome When Further Conservative Treatment Is Not an Option? J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2018 Sep;79(5):372-379. - PubMed
    1. Cummings KR, Vilaplana Grosso F, Moore GE, Rochat M, Thomovsky SA, Bentley RT. Radiographic indices for the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability in toy breed dogs [corrected]. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2018 Nov;59(6):667-676. - PubMed
    1. Kothe R. [Rheumatoid instability in the cervical spine : Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies]. Orthopade. 2018 Jun;47(6):489-495. - PubMed
    1. Yang SY, Boniello AJ, Poorman CE, Chang AL, Wang S, Passias PG. A review of the diagnosis and treatment of atlantoaxial dislocations. Global Spine J. 2014 Aug;4(3):197-210. - PMC - PubMed

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