An unusual atlanto-axial dislocation. Case report.

A case is presented in which the patient sustained a complete dislocation of the odontoid process in front of the anterior arch of the first cervical vertebra. There was no fracture of the arch of C-1 vertebra. The patient was treated successfully by trans-oral excision of the odontoid process and the anterior arch of C-1. Twenty days later the patient's spine was stabilized posteriorly at C-1 through C-3 with wire and methyl-methacrylate.