1/7. Elongated stylohyoid process: a report of three cases.The stylohyoid process is part of the stylohyoid chain--the styloid process, the stylohyoid ligament, and the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone. The stylohyoid chain is derived from the second branchial arch. Mineralisation of the stylohyoid ligament and ossification at the tip may increase the length of the styloid process. An elongated stylohyoid or styloid process is considered to be the source of craniofacial and cervical pain commonly known as Eagle's syndrome. In some instances the stylohyoid process may be considerably elongated, yet remain asymptomatic. This paper reports three patients with elongated stylohyoid processes discovered incidentally on routine radiographic examination.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Spontaneous fracture of an ossified stylohyoid ligament.The stylohyoid ligament extends from the styloid process to the hyoid bone. For an unknown reason it occasionally ossifies and forms a solid structure which can break because of trauma or even spontaneously. Symptoms of the fracture may mimic tumours, foreign bodies, infections or neuralgia. In our cases a spontaneous fracture of totally ossified stylohyoid ligaments presented as a painful neck swelling. The diagnosis was achieved by an ortopantomographic radiograph. In both cases the healing was spontaneous and complete.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Combined odontoid and jefferson fracture in a child: a case report.STUDY DESIGN: A case of combined odontoid and Jefferson fracture is reported. OBJECTIVE: To alert spine physicians to the rare combination of an odontoid and Jefferson fracture in a child. methods: A 5-year old boy presented with neck pain and torticollis after falling on his head from a four-wheeler that had rolled over. A computed tomography scan confirmed a combined odontoid and Jefferson fracture. RESULTS: The child was successfully treated nonsurgically with a hard cervical orthosis. At this writing, the child clinically is asymptomatic 2 years after the injury. DISCUSSION: The fall on to the head caused the body weight to be transmitted to the atlas. The resulting force vector produced the classic Jefferson fracture of the atlas. As the atlas fracture spread with continued compressive and axial forces, tension was exerted on the alar ligaments (check ligaments), leading to the avulsion fracture of the odontoid. CONCLUSIONS: This is only the second reported case of a child with a combined Jefferson and odontoid fracture. This diagnosis should be considered in the evaluation of a child with neck pain and torticollis from a fall on the top of the head.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane and the transverse atlantal ligament.STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane (PAAM) and ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas (TAL). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Ossification of the PAAM and TAL are both very rare clinical entities. This is the first case involving ossification of both the PAAM and TAL with the development of cervical myelopathy. methods: Patient's history, physical examination, radiographic evaluation, surgical treatment, and outcome are examined. Relevant literature is also reviewed. RESULTS: The patient's neurological symptoms significantly improved after posterior decompressive surgery. CONCLUSION: Ossification of various parts of the spinal ligament have been reported previously. Among them, ossification of both the PAAM and TAL has never been reported previously and is thus extremely rare. Surgical intervention improved the neurological impairment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. The cervical spine in marfan syndrome.STUDY DESIGN: Prospective radiographic and clinical analysis of a consecutive unselected population of persons with marfan syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To determine cervical spine abnormalities present in the Marfan population compared with that seen in the general population. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In the treatment of a large population of patients with marfan syndrome, three serious cervical spine disorders were noted. To the authors' knowledge, no report of cervical abnormalities in patients with marfan syndrome exists in the literature. Therefore, the cervical spine in these patients was studied in a systematic fashion. methods: An unselected group of 104 consecutive patients with marfan syndrome seen at a medical genetics follow-up examination underwent lateral neutral and flexion-extension cervical spine radiographs. Parameters of alignment, size, and stability were measured. patients with marfan syndrome aged 35-45 years and matched controls were given a pain questionnaire to complete. RESULTS: The prevalence of focal kyphosis was 16%. A large number of patients with marfan syndrome (54%) had increased atlantoaxial translation. The preadolescent Marfan population has a greater range of motion than either the adolescent or adult populations. The Marfan population has an increased radiographic prevalence of basilar impression (36%), and the odontoid height (3.69 /- 0.53 cm) was larger than reported norms (2.34 /- 0.22 cm). Cervical stenosis was rare, with 3% having a critical Torg ratio at C3 and 2% having a critical Torg ratio at C6. neck pain frequency did not differ significantly from that of age-matched controls. CONCLUSION: Based on the increased prevalence of several cervical bony and ligamentous abnormalities, patients with marfan syndrome were recommended to avoid sports with risks of high-impact loading of the cervical spine. Given the rarity of actual neurologic injuries in the Marfan population, however, radiographs for all patients with marfan syndrome undergoing general anesthesia is not recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Eagle's syndrome: a clinical report and review of the literature.A case of elongated stylohyoid ligament complex produced neck pain and dysphagia. The ossification of the stylohyoid complex and symptoms occurred after an automobile accident and were caused by cervicopharyngeal trauma. The patient was diagnosed with Eagle's syndrome based on clinical and radiographic examination. A stylohyoidectomy was performed, which led to the complete resolution of symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Acute neck pain and fever as the first manifestation of chondrocalcinosis with calcification of the transverse ligament of the atlas. Five case-reports with a literature review.We report five cases of acute neck pain with fever in patients with diffuse articular chondrocalcinosis and computed tomography evidence of calcification of the transverse ligament of the atlas. A review of the relevant literature illustrated the high frequency of this condition, the variability of clinical presentations ranging from episodes of acute neck pain with fever to compression of the proximal spinal cord, the value of computed tomography for determining the site of the calcific deposits and assessing the lesions, and the possibility of deposition of both calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate and hydroxyapatite crystals in the same patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = ligament (Clic here for more details about this article) |