AIM OF THE STUDY to gather clinical and laboratory data on rheumatoid arthritis patients with cervical spine damage (incidence and prevalence, correlation between duration of disease and the time of lesion onset, to assess signs and symptoms and the role of laboratory investigations). The spine is an axial organ with an important role in support and resistance. It is a pillar with a very comple...

BACKGROUND Mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a well-known complication of head and neck radiotherapy; however, ORN of the cervical spine is rarely reported. METHODS Herein, we present a patient with a history of tonsillar carcinoma treated with chemoradiation who developed acute, severe progressive neck pain due to cervical spine collapse as a result of ORN. We also discuss diagnosis and...

PURPOSE Cervical spine injuries following major trauma result in significant associated morbidity and mortality. Devastating neurological injury, including complete and incomplete tetraplegia, are common sequelae of cervical spine trauma and cause profound and life-altering medical, financial, and social consequences. Most cervical spine injuries follow motor vehicle accidents, falls, and viole...

Trauma patients are at high risk of cervical and associated injuries. The standard protocol includes immobilization of the cervical spine in a polytrauma as it will help to prevent spinal injuries in the prehospital settings. Hard cervical collar (or alternatives) is routinely used until the cervical spine clearance is obtained . In patients with traumatic brain injury avoiding any kind of mane...

BACKGROUND Manual in-line stabilization (MILS) is recommended during direct laryngoscopy and intubation in patients with known or suspected cervical spine instability. Because MILS impairs glottic visualization, the authors hypothesized that anesthesiologists would apply greater pressure during intubations with MILS than without. METHODS Nine anesthetized and pharmacologically paralyzed patie...

AIM Cross-sectional study that aims to evaluate the results of cervical spine surgeries due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) instability, between January of 2000 and of 2012 in a main Portuguese centre. METHODS Patients followed on Rheumatology submitted to cervical spine fusion due to atlantoaxial (AAI), sub-axial (SAI) or cranio-cervical (CCI) instabilities between 2000-2012 were included. Info...

The atlanto-axial instability is an increase of mobility of C2 respected to C1, it is more frequent in Down’s syndrome patients than in general population [2]. This association was first reported in 1961 [3] almost 100 years after Down syndrome was described. Although several cases of Atlanto-Axial Instability (AAI) were reported, only in 1983 through Paralympics games for Down syndrome players...

Down syndrome, the result of trisomy of chromosome 21, is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities. Patients have a characteristic facial appearance, variable levels of intelligence and self-care skills, and a variety of associated medical conditions. Orthopaedic manifestations occur frequently; most are related to hypotonia, joint hypermobility, and ligamentous laxity. Atlanto-occipita...

BACKGROUND Various therapeutic approaches have been proposed for the treatment of pediatric patients with eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the cervical spine. Our aim was to discuss and present our experience with the individualized surgical intervention of pediatric cervical EG complicated with neurologic deficits and/or spinal instability. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data...

Thoracic disc herniations are commonly found in asymptomatic individuals, sometimes with genetic predisposition. Congenital fusions of cervical vertebrae occur in Klippel-Feil syndrome, which may be asymptomatic or cause compressive myelitis due to cervical instability or associated herniated discs. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with monophasic acute transverse myelitis probably cause...