- Craniocervical Junction Disorders
- Craniocervical Junction Disorders
Craniocervical junction disorders are abnormalities of the bones that join the head and neck. (Cranio- means skull, and cervical means neck.)
- These disorders may be present at birth or result from injuries or disorders that occur later.
- Most commonly, people have neck pain and headache, but if the spinal cord or lowest part of the brain (brain stem) is affected, people may have difficulty sensing vibration, pain, and temperature and may have weak muscles, dizziness, and impaired vision.
- Doctors suspect the diagnosis based on symptoms, and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography is done to confirm it.
- To relieve pressure on the brain, spinal cord, or nerves, doctors use traction or manipulate the head, then immobilize the neck, but sometimes surgery is needed.
The craniocervical junction consists of the bone that forms the base of the skull (occipital bone) and the first two bones in the spine (which are in the neck): the atlas and axis. Disorders that affect the large opening at the bottom of the occipital bone (called the foramen magnum) are a particular concern because important structures pass through this opening. These structures include the lowest part of the brain (brain stem), which connects to the spine, as well as some nerves and blood vessels.
Craniocervical junction disorders may involve bones that are
Misaligned bones may be completely separated (dislocated) or partially misaligned (subluxed).
These disorders can put pressure on the lower parts of the brain, the top part of the spinal cord, or nearby nerves. The resulting symptoms can be serious. For example, misalignment of the first and second spinal bones (atlantoaxial subluxation or dislocation) can put pressure on the spinal cord. Such pressure can result in paralysis, weakness, and loss of sensation.
Causes
Craniocervical junction disorders may be present at birth (congenital) or acquired later.
Present at birth
Some of these disorders—called isolated disorders—affect only the craniocervical junction. Other craniocervical junction disorders result from conditions that also affect many other parts of the body (general disorders).
Isolated disorders include the following:
- Platybasia: The bone at the base of the skull (occipital bone) is flattened.
- Basilar invagination: Parts of the occipital bone are malformed, shortening the neck and putting pressure on parts of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
- Atlas assimilation: The occipital bone and first spinal bone are fused.
- Atlantoaxial subluxation or dislocation: The first and second spinal bones are misaligned.
- Atlas hypoplasia: The first spinal bone develops incompletely.
- Klippel-Feil malformation: The first two spinal bones are fused, limiting movement of the neck but usually causing no other problems.
- Chiari malformation: The cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls balance) protrudes through the opening in the occipital bone. The protruding cerebellum may put pressure on the brain stem or spinal cord or cause spinal fluid to accumulate around the brain (called hydrocephalus).
- Os odontoideum: Part of the second spinal bone is replaced by abnormal bone.
General disorders may cause the same abnormalities as isolated disorders, but the abnormalities occur as part of a group of abnormalities, as in the following:
- Disorders that affect bone formation in children (achondroplasia): These disorders affect all newly developing bone, particularly the long bones in the arms and legs. The long bones may be abnormally short and malformed, causing dwarfism (see Osteochondrodysplasias). These disorders sometimes also cause the opening in the occipital bone to narrow or the occipital bone to fuse with the first spinal bone, putting pressure on the brain stem or spinal cord.
- Down syndrome (see Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21; Trisomy G)), mucopolysaccharidosis (a rare hereditary disorder that impairs the body's processing of carbohydrates—see page Mucopolysaccharidoses), or osteogenesis imperfecta (a rare hereditary disorder that results in fragile bones—see page Osteogenesis Imperfecta): These disorders cause various symptoms, which may include misalignment of the first two spinal bones.
Acquired
Craniocervical junction disorders may occur later in life. They can result from injuries or certain disorders.
Injuries may affect bone, ligaments, or both. They are usually caused by motor vehicle or bicycle accidents, falls, or often diving. Some injuries are immediately fatal.
The most common disorders that affect craniocervical structures are .
- Rheumatoid arthritis (see Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA))
- Paget disease of bone (see Paget Disease of Bone)
Tumors can also affect craniocervical structures. If tumors spread to the bones of the neck, the first two spinal bones may become misaligned. A rare, slow-growing bone tumor (called a chordoma—see page Chordomas) can develop at the craniocervical junction and press on the brain or spinal cord.
Symptoms
Typically, people have neck pain, often with a headache that starts at the back of the head. Symptoms can start after a slight neck injury or for no apparent reason. Moving the head usually makes neck pain and headache worse, and coughing or bending forward can trigger the pain.
If there is pressure on the spinal cord, the arms and/or legs may feel weak, and people may have difficulty moving them. People may be unable to sense where their limbs are (called position sense) or feel vibration. When they bend their neck forward, they may feel an electrical shock or a tingling sensation shooting down their back, often into their legs (called Lhermitte sign). Occasionally, people become less sensitive to pain and temperature in their hands and feet.
Depending on the specific disorder, the neck may be short, webbed, or twisted in an abnormal position. Movement of the head may be limited.
Pressure on parts of the brain or cranial nerves (which connect the brain directly to various parts of the head, neck, and trunk) can affect eye movements. People may have double vision or be unable to move their eyes in certain directions, or the eyes may move involuntarily in certain ways (called nystagmus). People may be hoarse and have difficulty swallowing. Speech may be slurred. Coordination may be lost. Some people develop sleep apnea. In this serious disorder, breathing repeatedly stops, often long enough to temporarily decrease the amount of oxygen and increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood (see Sleep Apnea).
Changing the position of the head can sometimes put pressure on arteries, cutting off the blood supply to the head. Then, people may faint or feel light-headed, confused, or weak. They may have a sensation of spinning (vertigo). Vision and eye movement are sometimes affected.
In some people with Chiari malformation, a cavity (called a syringomyelia—see Syrinx of the Spinal Cord and Brain Stem) may form in the spinal cord. These people may lose their ability to feel pain and temperature in the neck, upper arms, and parts of the back. The muscles may feel weak or become paralyzed, particularly in the hands.
Diagnosis
If symptoms appear suddenly or suddenly worsen, people should see a doctor immediately. Immediate diagnosis and treatment are essential and can sometimes reverse symptoms or prevent permanent disability.
Doctors suspect a craniocervical junction disorder if people have
The diagnosis can be confirmed by imaging tests, usually magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). If problems appeared suddenly or suddenly worsen, an imaging test is done immediately. CT shows bone better than MRI and may be done more easily in an emergency. If MRI and CT are unavailable, plain x-rays are taken.
If MRI and CT are inconclusive, myelography with CT may be done. For this procedure, x-rays are taken after a radiopaque dye (one that can be seen on x-rays) is injected into the space around the spinal cord.
If MRI or CT suggests abnormalities that affect blood vessels, angiography, which provides detailed images of bloods vessels, is done. Doctors may use magnetic resonance angiography (which uses a strong magnetic field and very high frequency radio waves rather than x-rays), CT angiography (CT done after a radiopaque dye is injected—see page CT angiography) or conventional angiography (which uses x-rays taken after a radiopaque dye is injected—see Angiography).
Treatment
If the craniocervical junction structures are putting pressure on the brain, spinal cord, or nerves, doctors try to realign (reduce) the structures by using traction or by manipulating the head into different positions. These techniques may relieve the pressure. After the structures are realigned, the head and neck are immobilized.
Usually, realignment requires traction. Traction typically involves a device that encircles and is fixed to the head (called a halo crown or ring). It may have to remain in place for 5 to 6 days. After the structures are realigned, the halo crown is attached to a brace around the person's torso. This device, called a halo vest, immobilizes the neck. It must remain in place for 8 to 12 wk. After it is applied, x-rays are taken to make sure the structures are being held securely in the correct alignment.
If traction or manipulation is ineffective, surgery is done to relieve the pressure, stabilize the structures, or both. If the cause is rheumatoid arthritis, surgery is usually needed. Various devices, such as metal plates or rods with screws, are used to securely hold the structures in place until bones fuse and become stable.
If problems are due to a bone tumor, radiation therapy and a rigid collar (neck brace) to keep the neck from moving often help.
If the cause is Paget disease of bone, drugs such as bisphosphonates (which increase bone density) or calcitonin may help.
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