Congenital Absence of the Posterior Arch of the Atlas – A Strange but Benign Anomaly
Congenital partial aplasia of the atlas with a posterior arch remnant is rare. It may be found as an incidental radiological finding or patients can present with neurological signs and symptoms after head or neck trauma. A 36-year-old female presented with a 3-day history of right sided neck pain ra...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Malaysian Orthopaedic Association
2007-11-01
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Series: | Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://morthoj.org/2007v1n2/Posterior-Arch-of-the-Atlas.pdf |
Summary: | Congenital partial aplasia of the atlas with a posterior arch remnant is rare. It may be found as an incidental radiological finding or patients can present with neurological signs and symptoms after head or neck trauma. A 36-year-old female presented with a 3-day history of right sided neck pain radiating down the right arm. Radiographs of the cervical spine showed a radiolucent area in the region of the posterior arch of the atlas. Computed tomography subsequently revealed partial absence of the posterior arch of the atlas with a defect at the anterior ring. Her clinical condition subsequently improved with rest, analgesia and physiotherapy. This case report illustrates a situation where congenital defect of the posterior arch of the atlas was revealed in a patient with neck pain. Awareness of the existence of this condition will help clinicians avoid misdiagnosis and excessive investigations. |
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ISSN: | 1985-2533 |