1987 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 105-107
A case of lateral dislocation of atlanto-axial joint is reported. This case was a 65 years old man who had had severe pain in posterior neck and occipital lesion. Radiographs showed lateral dislocation of atlanto-axial joint. This patient was xero positive and there were erosions in atlanto-axial joints, which suggested that the cause of lateral dislocation was RA. Complete relief was obtained immediately after posterior fusion by Mcgraw's method and he has been assymptomatic 7 weeks postoperatively.
Anterior dislocation of atlanto-axial joint is very common. Posterior, upward and rotatory dislocation of atlanto-axial joint are sometimes seen. But lateral dislocation of atlantoaxial joint is very rare. We could not find the report of lateral dislocation of atlanto-axial joint caused by RA.
