Spontaneous Dislocation of the Atlas: (As a Complication in Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Abstract

Summary A case of rheumatoid arthritis with a spontaneous atlas dislocation caused the author to search for other cases. Three inveterate cases were found, all of which suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Since no inveterate case of other origin was found, the final result in these cases seems to be dependent on the evolution of the arthritic process. Therefore it seems to be of great importance that the head is maintained in a normal position during the healing. The author found that maintaining of the reposition is entirely dependent on the membrana tectoria. Longitudinal extension treatment therefore offers the only method for keeping the atlas in position.