[Grisel's syndrome. Description of a case of spontaneous subluxation of the atlas].

Grisel's syndrome is an atlanto-axial dislocation affecting children between 6 and 12 years. The outstanding symptom is a spontaneously arising torticollis. The most likely etiology seems to be an inflammation of the retropharyngeal space caused by upper respiratory tract infections or by adenotonsillectomy. Some A.A. consider Grisel' syndrome clinical features strictly due to predisposing conditions. The anamnesis and clinical signs are important clues to diagnosis. The A.A. report a case of an apparently spontaneous torticollis occurred few days after adenotonsillectomy in a 7 years old girl.