Related Experiment Videos
Laryngeal stridor due to odontoid peg subluxation
1E.N.T. Department, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|May 1, 1988
Summary
A woman experienced progressive stridor from immobile vocal cords caused by cervical spinal cord compression. Surgical intervention for the upwardly subluxed odontoid peg was unsuccessful, leading to a fatal outcome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Cervical spine injuries can present with diverse neurological deficits.
- Odontoid peg subluxation is a rare but serious upper cervical spine injury.
- Vocal cord immobility can be a sign of significant neurological compromise.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old female presented with progressive stridor, indicating airway compromise.
- The stridor was attributed to bilateral vocal cord immobility.
- Imaging revealed an upwardly subluxed odontoid peg causing cervical spinal cord compression.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms were directly linked to mechanical compression of the cervical spinal cord by the subluxed odontoid peg.
- Surgical intervention was performed to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize the cervical spine.
- Despite surgical efforts, the patient's condition deteriorated, resulting in a fatal outcome.
Implications:
- This case highlights the critical importance of considering cervical spine pathology in patients with unexplained vocal cord dysfunction and stridor.
- Prompt diagnosis and management of odontoid peg subluxation are crucial to prevent severe neurological injury.
- Even with surgical intervention, the prognosis for severe cervical spinal cord compression can be poor, emphasizing the need for early recognition.