Atlantoaxial rotational dislocation and associated multiple-level fractures to the spine

Abstract

We present a case of a young woman with multilevel spinal injuries. The injury includes a rotational atlantoaxial dislocation associated with concomitant injury at C5 and at the sacrum. Rotational dislocation at C1-C2 level is not frequently encountered in young adults, and the presence of associated lesions to the spine makes this condition a challenging one. The medical record of a patient who sustained three spinal injuries at diVerent levels of the spine was evaluated. The prevalence of this type of injury, the diagnosis, the clinical behavior, and the applied treatment are evaluated. The patient was treated non-operatively, and a satisfactory clinical outcome was recorded at the last follow-up visit.