Atlanto-axial dislocation in acute rheumatic fever. Case report

A 10-year-old boy had a sore throat, followed in 4 weeks by acute rheumatic fever and in 6 weeks by atlanto-axial dislocation. Reduction of the dislocation by means of a halo vest relieved his pain, but the cervical spine remained unstable after 3 months of immobilization and required an occiput-C1-2 fusion and rib graft to stabilize the atlanto-axial joint. This is the eighth reported case of atlanto-axial dislocation associated with acute rheumatic fever. The features of previous cases are summarized and the clinical aspects, mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of atlanto-axial dislocation are reviewed.