Atlantoaxial Subluxation in Three Cases

Abstract

Atlantoaxial subluxation is a distinctive finding in rheumatoid arthritis which may also occur in early disease process. With chronic and severe disease, subluxation or dislocation of one or several levels of cervical spine may occur. The most important result of atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis is spinal cord damage. Atlantoaxial subluxation is seen rarely in ankylosing spondylitis with mild neurological signs. In this report we aimed to present atlantoaxial subtuxation in three rheumatic cases, one with ankylosing spondylitis and two having rheumatoid arthritis. One of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis developed neurological signs of medullary cord compression.