A midline post. approach for treatment of os odontoideum via atlantoaxial reduction, bone graft ...
Channel: American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Date: 2020-02-06

Lei Zhao, MD, PhD, Peng Wang, MD, PhD, and Weixin Li, MD, PhD

Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Os odontoideum is a rare anomaly of the second cervical vertebra, which can result in the compression and injury of cervical spinal cord. This deformity is surgically challenging. The authors presented a case of a 50-year-old man with a 2-year history of numbness and weakness in four limbs. The x-ray suggested the os odontoideum. MRI demonstrated a dramatic compression of the cervical spinal cord and an abnormally high signal intensity area in this region. The patient underwent a midline posterior approach for the treatment of this lesion. Postoperatively, the reduction results were satisfactory and the compression was relieved.

DOI: 10.3171/2020.1.FocusVid.19723

**Intro music: "Daybreak" by Graeme Rosner