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Related Experiment Videos

Headache due to an extra joint between head and neck

A Stolt-Nielsen1, T A Fredriksen, O Sjaastad

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Trondheim University Hospitals, Norway.

Headache
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

A rare bony bridge between the first vertebra and skull caused chronic headaches in a young girl. Surgical removal resolved the pain, suggesting this anomaly can be a source of symptoms.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Chronic headaches can significantly impact quality of life and school attendance.
  • The etiology of chronic headaches, especially in pediatric populations, requires thorough investigation.
  • Cervical spine abnormalities are not always considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent headaches.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with chronic, severe headaches, worsening after head trauma.
  • Physical examination revealed restricted neck rotation and a palpable bony structure near the left mastoid process.
  • Radiographic imaging (X-ray tomography and CT) identified an anomalous bony bridge with an extra joint between the first cervical vertebra and the skull.

Findings:

  • The identified bony bridge was surgically removed.
  • Post-operative, the patient experienced complete and sustained resolution of headaches.
  • This case challenges the long-held assumption that such bony anomalies are asymptomatic.

Implications:

  • Congenital cervical spine anomalies, like bony bridges, can be a direct cause of chronic headaches.
  • Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing rare structural causes of persistent head pain.
  • This case highlights the need to consider musculoskeletal etiologies in refractory headache presentations.

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