1/33. Spasmodic torticollis due to neurovascular compression of the spinal accessory nerve by the anteroinferior cerebellar artery: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Spasmodic torticollis is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by uncontrollable clonic and intermittently tonic spasm of the neck muscles. We report a case of spasmodic torticollis attributable to neurovascular compression of the right XIth cranial nerve by the right anteroinferior cerebellar artery (AICA). CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old man with a 2-year history of right spasmodic torticollis underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which demonstrated compression of the right XIth cranial nerve by an abnormal descending loop of the right AICA. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent microvascular decompression surgery. During surgery, it was confirmed that an abnormal loop of the right AICA was compressing the right accessory nerve. Compression was released by the interposition of muscle between the artery and the nerve. CONCLUSION: The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and his symptoms were fully relieved at the 2-year follow-up examination. This is the first reported case of spasmodic torticollis attributable to compression by the AICA; usually, the blood vessels involved are the vertebral artery and the posteroinferior cerebellar artery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/33. torticollis revealing as a symptom of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a fourteen-month-old girl.The differential diagnosis of acquired torticollis in infants and children comprises a large variety of disorders, including inflammation, neurologic disease or trauma. CONCLUSION: Spinal cord tumours in patients with ALL are a rarely reported entity and secondary spinal involvement in leukaemia presenting as head tilt is even more uncommon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/33. Anomalous vertebral artery-induced cervical cord compression causing severe nape pain. Case report.The authors describe a very rare case of cervical cord compression caused by anomalous bilateral vertebral arteries (VAs). A 65-year-old woman had been suffering from intractable nape pain and torticollis. magnetic resonance imaging revealed a signal void region in which spinal cord compression was present. angiography demonstrated anomalous bilateral VAs compressing the spinal cord. Microvascular decompressive surgery was successfully performed. Neuroradiological and intraoperative findings are presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/33. pseudotumor cerebri manifesting as stiff neck and torticollis.Stiff neck and torticollis are significant signs of neurologic disease. Nuchal rigidity is often associated with meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and posterior fossa tumor. torticollis may be encountered in inflammatory disorders, such as cervical lymphadenitis, or it can be a sign of spinal cord syrinx or of central nervous system neoplasm. We report on three prepubertal children in whom stiff neck and torticollis were the presenting signs of pseudotumor cerebri. In all, the removal of 6-7 mL of cerebrospinal fluid led to prompt relief of symptoms and signs. We suggest that in the presence of unexplained stiff neck or torticollis in children, the optic discs should be examined to exclude pseudotumor cerebri.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/33. Secondary cervical dystonia associated with structural lesions of the central nervous system.We tested the hypothesis that structural lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with cervical dystonia more commonly involve the cerebellum and its primary afferent pathways than basal ganglia structures. Cervical dystonia is the most common focal dystonia, the majority of cases are idiopathic, and only a small percentage of patients have a family history of dystonia or other movement disorders. Pathophysiological mechanisms operative in solely or predominantly appendicular dystonias such as writer's cramp and Oppenheim's dystonia, respectively, may not be directly applicable to axial dystonias. The localization of structural lesions of the CNS associated with secondary cervical dystonia may provide some insight into the neural structures potentially involved in primary cervical dystonia. The National Library of medicine Gateway (from 1960) and a clinical database maintained by the senior author (from 1999) were searched for cases of secondary cervical dystonia associated with structural lesions of the CNS. Search terms included one or more of the following: dystonia, torticollis, cervical, secondary, and symptomatic. Lesion localization and type, patient age, patient gender, head position, occurrence of sensory tricks, and associated neurological findings were tabulated for each case. Structural lesions associated with cervical dystonia were most commonly localized to the brainstem and cerebellum. The remaining cases were equally divided between the cervical spinal cord and basal ganglia. Although inconsistent, head rotation tended to be contralateral to lesion localization. Additional neurological abnormalities were present in the majority of patients with secondary cervical dystonia. The relative paucity of basal ganglia pathology and concentration of lesions in the brainstem, cerebellum, and cervical spinal cord in patients with secondary cervical dystonia suggests that dysfunction of cerebellar afferent pathways may be important to the pathophysiology of primary cervical dystonia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/33. Cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma.We report a case of cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome (DHS) in a 57-year-old man treated for laryngeal carcinoma by radiotherapy (74.4 Gy) 3 months before. Cervical computerized tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not find any muscle fat changes but found a high-intensity signal on T2 weighted images in the cervical spinal cord. Clinical and electromyographic findings were consistent with cervical dystonia. A trapezius biopsy was normal. Spontaneous remission of the dystonia was observed for 1 month whereas the laryngeal carcinoma progressed. The link between cervical dystonia and radiotherapy might be acute radiation-induced damage to the cervical spinal cord.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/33. Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation with ankylosis in an 11-year-old girl: a case report.STUDY DESIGN: Report of an 11-year-old girl with a left atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation and ankylosis found 20 months after she sustained a cervical injury. OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiographic characteristics of this rare deformity assessed with a combination of spiral CT scan with multiplanar three-dimensional reformations and functional CT scan. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation is a well-known condition, but its association with lateral C1-C2 ankylosis has not been reported to our knowledge. methods: For a complete assessment of the dislocation, a combined morphologic volumetric and functional CT study was performed. RESULTS: Spiral CT showed an atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation with lateral C1-C2 ankylosis. CT study also demonstrated a lateral C1-C2 subluxation and an ipsilateral occipitoatlantal subluxation. Cervical MRI showed no spinal cord compression despite the seriousness of the dislocation process. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas "classic" spiral study with multiplanar and three-dimensional reformations allows precise assessment of relationships between the upper cervical vertebrae, as well as bony changes, a functional CT study is essential for cervical biomechanic assessment of rotational instabilities of the craniovertebral junction and upper cervical spine.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/33. Reduction of cervical dystonia after an extended course of chiropractic manipulation: a case report.OBJECTIVE: The diminution of the signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia following an extended course of specific chiropractic manipulation is described. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 38-year-old man had gross anterior-lateral torticollis, focal dystonia of the head and neck, and radicularlike pains which failed to respond to physical therapy, medication, and injection. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Two specific spinal manipulative technique systems unique to the chiropractic profession (Applied Biostructural Therapy [ABT] and Atlas Coccygeal Technique [ACT]) were applied to the patient. The patient's grading on a modified cervical dystonia scale dropped from a grade 16 to a grade 5 after an extended course of these specific chiropractic manipulative techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Advanced Biostructural Therapy and Atlas Coccygeal chiropractic techniques for management of cervical dystonia is presented. Substantial reduction in the cervical dystonia rating scale was observed with this approach, even after standard medical interventions had failed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/33. Transient tetraplegia and vegetative dysfunction depending on cervical positioning caused by a cervical spinal chordoma.A 39-year-old man with acquired torticollis suffering from cervicobrachialgia and neurological deficits is presented. Due to a change in head position a transient reproducible tetraplegia and severe vegetative dysfunctions were caused. The origin of this uncommon serious combination of symptoms and signs was a chordoma of the upper cervical spine. After surgical decompression the patient was free of neurological deficit and pain. review of the literature did not reveal any similar case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/33. Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma-unusual cause of torticollis in a child.Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma is rare in children. The presentation could be nonspecific, leading to a delay in diagnosis. We present an infant who sustained an epidural hematoma after a "trivial" injury. The delay in diagnosis led to minor neurological deficit at 6-week follow-up. Irritability and torticollis after a neck trauma in an afebrile child should alert to the possibility of spinal cord compression. Early imaging and early decompression will minimize morbidity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |