Congenital C1 arch deficiency: Grand Round presentation

Mahmoud Mohamed Elmalky1, Sherief Elsayed, George Arealis

  • 1Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital, Derby Road, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK. mah_elmalky@yahoo.com

Insights

C1 arch deficiency, a rare congenital anomaly, can cause neck pain in children. Management remains controversial, with no clear surgical guidelines, and activity restrictions may not always be necessary.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Congenital Anomalies
  • Spinal Surgery

Background:

  • C1 arch deficiency is an uncommon congenital anomaly presenting diagnostic and management challenges.
  • It is a crucial consideration in the differential diagnosis of pediatric neck pain.

Observation:

  • A 12-year-old girl experienced cervical spine clicking, diagnosed via CT and MRI as C1 posterior arch deficiency.
  • She was treated with a cervical brace for a year, with significant resolution of clicking but residual neck pain.

Findings:

  • Current management strategies for C1 arch deficiency lack definitive guidelines.
  • Indications for surgical intervention in the absence of neurological deficits are unclear.

Implications:

  • The necessity of restricting children with C1 arch deficiency from physical activities requires further evaluation.
  • Further research is needed to establish evidence-based management protocols for this condition.
Abstract

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