Case Report, J Spine Neurosurg Vol: 3 Issue: 1
Occipitalisation of Atlas with Sudden Onset
Riccardo Ciarpaglini*, Patrick Sutter, Philippe Otten and Gianluca Maestretti |
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Fribourg, Switzerland |
Corresponding author : Riccardo Ciarpaglini Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Fribourg, Switzerland Tel: +41/799439058; Fax: +41/264267225 E-mail: ciarpa@hotmail.com |
Received: November 19, 2013 Accepted: December 16, 2013 Published: December 23, 2013 |
Citation: Ciarpaglini R, Sutter P, Otten P, Maestretti G (2014) Occipitalisation of Atlas with Sudden Onset. J Spine Neurosurg 3:1 doi:10.4172/2325-9701.1000130 |
Abstract
Occipitalisation of Atlas with Sudden Onset
Occipitalization or assimilation of the atlas, atlanto-occipital fusion and occipito-cervical synostosis are synonyms and indicate a fusion of C1 to the base of the skull. This condition was initially described by Rokitansky in 1844 and was demonstrated radiologically by Schuller in 1911. Atlo-occipital fusion can be complete or partial, unilateral or bilateral and bony or fibrous. Its incidence is reported from 0.14 to 3.63% according to different authors in the whole population, with equal repartition in both sexes and it is considered the most common anomaly of the cranio-cervical junction.