Unstable
os odontoideum contributing to cervical myelopathy and obstructive sleep apnea.
Surg Neurol Int 2019;
10:125. [PMID:
31528461 PMCID:
PMC6744766 DOI:
10.25259/sni-308-2019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive cessation of breathing during sleep. It may be attributed to obstructive, central, or mixed pathologies close to the upper airway resulting in a decreased diameter of the oropharyngeal tract.
Case Description:
A 36-year-old male with progressive cervicomedullary myelopathy/quadriparesis exhibited obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) attributed to an anteriorly displaced os odontoideum (OO). Atlantoaxial screw-rod stabilization resulted in improvement of both neurological function and OSA.
Conclusion:
A symptomatic unstable OO may contribute to suboccipital pain, progressive quadriparesis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and OSA. Appropriate operative intervention utilizing atlantoaxial screw-rod stabilization may help to resolve these deficits.
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