Atlanto-axial Dislocation
An atlantoaxial dislocation occurs when the atlas, the first cervical vertebra, slips over the second cervical vertebra, disrupting the most mobile joint in the body. This joint is crucial for head rotation and is stabilized by strong ligaments and a unique bony structure. Instability can arise from various causes including odontoid fractures, tubercular infections, spondylosis, inflammatory diseases like ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, ligamentous laxity, and conditions like Down syndrome.
