Congenital Posterior Arch Defect of the Atlas : Report of a Rare Anomaly (original) (raw)

2011

Abstract

Congenital defects of the posterior arch of the atlas are rare, with a reported prevalence of 0.95 to 4%. The defects have been classified into five types (A-E), with type A being most common and types B-E being found only in 0.69% of the general population. Although most patients are asymptomatic, some may present with chronic neck pain, headache, Lhermitte’s sign, transient quadriparesis or even acute neurological deficits. The defects may also mimic a Jefferson fracture leading to a wrong diagnosis. Despite its rarity, knowledge of this congenital posterior arch defect of the atlas is important for avoiding diagnostic errors and to provide information on its management. We are therefore reporting a case with this congenital defect discovered as an incidental finding and provide a literature review about this rare anomaly.

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