A Comprehensive Study of Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies

Abstract

OBJECTIVES ; To Analyse comprehensively about the incidence of Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies in different age groups, their sex prevalence, their clinical findings, radiological abnormalities, the different surgical procedures done and their final outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS : About 50 patients with CVJ Anomalies were taken for this prospective study. All the Congenital& Acquired CVJ Anomalies in all the sex groups were taken for the study. The incidental Arnold Chiari malformation was excluded from this study. All the personal, clinical, radiological & surgical treatment and the final outcome were entered and analysed. RESULTS : The CVJ Anomalies are more common in young adults (28%), almost equal in both sexes. The Congenital (68%) are more common than the Acquired. Atlantoaxial Dislocation (22%) is the most common congenital bony anomaly and Arnold Chiari malformation is the most common soft tissue anomaly. The patients with increased ADI 3 to 5mm showed 77% improvement after surgery. CONCLUSION ; The Atlantodental Interval is the important pre operative prognostic marker. The Craniometric lines arew very arbitrary. No definite surgical technique is correlated with the post operative surgical outcome.