BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Although rarely discussed in the literature and difficult to evaluate on plain radiographs, atlantooccipital osteoarthritis can be a source of persistent suboccipital pain. Our objective in this report is to describe two cases with atlantooccipital (O-C1) osteoarthritis treated with posterior occipitocervical fusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two patients presented with unilateral suboccipital pain, which was refractory to conservative treatment. One patient suffered from long-standing rheumatoid arthritis while the other patient did not have pertinent medical issues. After non-diagnostic plain film imaging, CT scan demonstrated unilateral osteoarthritis of the atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial joint in both patients who subsequently underwent posterior O-C2 fusion with resolution of their preoperative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This is, to our knowledge, the first case report which specifically focused on surgical treatment of atlantooccipital osteoarthritis. Occipitocervical fusion is a treatment option for patients with atlantooccipital osteoarthritis when suboccipital pain is not responsive to conservative treatment.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Although rarely discussed in the literature and difficult to evaluate on plain radiographs, atlantooccipital osteoarthritis can be a source of persistent suboccipital pain. Our objective in this report is to describe two cases with atlantooccipital (O-C1) osteoarthritis treated with posterior occipitocervical fusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two patients presented with unilateral suboccipital pain, which was refractory to conservative treatment. One patient suffered from long-standing rheumatoid arthritis while the other patient did not have pertinent medical issues. After non-diagnostic plain film imaging, CT scan demonstrated unilateral osteoarthritis of the atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial joint in both patients who subsequently underwent posterior O-C2 fusion with resolution of their preoperative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This is, to our knowledge, the first case report which specifically focused on surgical treatment of atlantooccipital osteoarthritis. Occipitocervical fusion is a treatment option for patients with atlantooccipital osteoarthritis when suboccipital pain is not responsive to conservative treatment.
Authors: Jin S Yeom; Jacob M Buchowski; Kun-Woo Park; Bong-Soon Chang; Choon-Ki Lee; K Daniel Riew Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2008-12-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: F S Kleinstück; T F Fekete; M Loibl; D Jeszenszky; D Haschtmann; F Porchet; A F Mannion Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2021-09-03 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Sergiy V Kushchayev; Tetiana Glushko; Mohamed Jarraya; Karl H Schuleri; Mark C Preul; Michael L Brooks; Oleg M Teytelboym Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2018-03-22