Thirunavu V, Dahdaleh NS. Management of Atlantoaxial Instability Due to a Pathological Fracture of the Axis.
Cureus 2020;
12:e8951. [PMID:
32626633 PMCID:
PMC7331783 DOI:
10.7759/cureus.8951]
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Abstract
Metastases to the upper cervical spine are uncommon, and subsequent instability is rare. We report the details of a patient with metastatic breast cancer to the axis manifesting as a pathologic fracture and C1/C2 instability. This was treated by preoperative reduction to appropriate alignment with use of crown halo traction, followed by posterior occipitocervical fusion and postoperative radiation therapy.
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