• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.264-266
• /
• 2007

Atlantoaxial facet joint osteoarthritis is rare, often undiagnosed because it may be misdiagnosed as occipital neuralgia, or degenerative cervical spondylosis. Unilateral occipitocervical pain aggravated by head rotation is a specific symptom. Conservative treatment is usually effective. But when the patient complains of intractable neck pain localized to occipitocervical junction and unresponsive to medical therapy, surgical treatment should be considered. Though a few reports of surgically treated atlantoaxial osteoarthritis has been published, surgical outcome is favorable. A case of a surgically treated atlantoaxial osteoarthritis is presented with a review of the literatures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2005

Although the atlantoaxial joint is the most common site of rheumatoid arthritis, our patient had no symptoms or signs suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis. The atlantoaxial joint is frequently involved in degenerative osteoarthritis, especially in elderly patients. An 81-year old man presented with severe intermittent electric shock like, lancinating pain from the occipital to the temporal and parietofrontal areas. He also had neck pain and a limited range of motion. After many examinations and laboratory tests, at the department of neurology and neurosurgery, he was diagnosed with idiopathic neuralgia. The diagnosis of atlantoaxial joint syndrome was confirmed, and treated successfully with atlantoaxial joint block.