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GERHARD H. FROMM, MD; SAMUEL E. PITNER, MD

Arch Neurol. 1963;9(3):291-296.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Introduction

Congenital absence of the odontoid process of the axis was first described by Robert¹ in 1933. Since that time, an additional 27 cases^2-20 have been reported. Most case reports have dealt with the orthopedic and radiological aspects of the condition. However, neurological complications are relatively frequent. Progressive cervical myelopathy occurred spontaneously in six reported cases, and post-traumatic myelopathy or radicular involvement occurred in an additional five cases closely following trauma.

As the cases in which progressive cervical myelopathy occurs can mimic other types of neurological disease, and as little is known concerning the best type of management of these patients, it seems appropriate to report our recent experience with two cases of congenital absence of the odontoid process presenting as progressive spastic quadriparesis of obscure etiology.

Report of Cases

CASE 1.—The patient was first admitted to the St. Albans Naval Hospital Jan 9, 1957, at the age of 35 . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
NEW ORLEANS

From the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine; Charity Hospital of Louisiana, New Orleans; and U. S. Naval Hospital No. 59, St. Albans, Long Island, NY.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication May 4, 1963; accepted June 8.

Read in part at the Dec 9, 1958, meeting of the New York Neurological Society and the Section of Neurology and Psychiatry of the New York Academy of Medicine.

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine (Dr. Fromm); Chief Resident, Tulane Neurology Service, Charity Hospital of Louisiana (Dr. Pitner).

Supported in part by a Public Health Service research career program award (NB-K3-6429) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (G.H.F.) and by a Public Health Service trainee stipend (2B-5391) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (Dr. Pitner).

The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the United States Navy.

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