Bliemel C, Kuehl H, Ruchholtz S, Kühne C A
Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Unfallchirurg. 2009 May;112(5):513-6. doi: 10.1007/s00113-008-1534-5.
Congenital anomalies of the atlas are rare but well documented. They can range from total agenesis to partial clefts of the posterior and/or anterior arches and are mostly incidental findings after a sustained trauma. It is essential to differentiate these congenital variants from fractures of the atlas to prevent the patient from unnecessary (neuro-) surgical intervention. In this article the case of a 10-year-old girl is described with an unusual finding of partial aplasia of the posterior arch. The clinical features and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are discussed.
