Cervical Cord Injury due to Atlantoaxial Dislocation in Down's Syndrome: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

The children with Down's syndrome are predisposed to atlantoaxial instability due to ligamentous laxity of the atlantoaxial joint. That can lead to cervical spinal cord compression. A careful neurologic examination and pe riodic screening for atlantoaxial instability would be very important for early detection and prompt management. We report a child with Down's syndrome who was diagnosed as atlantoaxial dislocation. Long times after the showed progressive symptoms of cervical cord compression including respiratory distress.