One-stage Transoral Decompression and Posterior Fusion in Rheumatoid Atlanto-axial Subluxation: Report of A Case

ABSTRACT

Authors report a case of one-stage transoral decompression and posterior fusion in rheumatoid atlanto-axial subluxation. A 63-year-old man developed a rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation with mild weakness of all extremities which developed relatively suddenly 3 motnths after the initial symptom of neck pain. Skeletal traction followed by transoral decompression and occipitocervical fusion was performed on the same day. Postoperative course has been uneventful and revealed favorable fusion state of occipito-atlanto-axis. The pertinent literature on rheumatoid atlanto-axial subluxation is reviewed and discussed.