Congenital posterior atlas defect associated with anterior rachischisis and early cervical degenerative disc disease: a case study and review of the literature

Acta Orthop Belg. 2007 Apr;73(2):282-5.

Abstract

A rare case of a wide congenital atlas defect is reported. A 25 year-old woman was admitted after complaints of radicular pain in the right arm. Radiographs incidentally revealed aplasia of the posterior arch of the atlas together with anterior rachischisis. A review of the literature is presented and a possible association with early disc degeneration is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cervical Atlas / abnormalities*
  • Cervical Atlas / diagnostic imaging
  • Cervical Atlas / embryology
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neck Pain / etiology
  • Spinal Diseases / complications*
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Dysraphism / complications*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed