Abstract
Patterns of skeletal abnormality at the craniovertebral junction in the normal population and in syndromes such as Down, Morquio etc, are compared and the recent embryological data and comparative anatomy reviewed. The authors' view based on their own clinical and radiological experience is that the osodontoideum is the product of excessive movement at the time of ossification of the cartilaginous dens and is exactly analogous to the unfused Type II odontoid fracture. True hypoplasia of the odontoid peg is part of a wider segmentation defect associated with Klippel Feil, occipitalised atlas and/or basilar invagination; it is hardly every associated with instability.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashraf J, Crockard HA, Ransford AO, Stevens JM (1991) Transoral decompression and posterior stabilisation in Morquio's disease. Arch Dis Child 66: 1318–1321
Beighton P, Craig J (1973) Atlanto-axial subluxation in the Morquio syndrome. Report of a case. J Bone Joint Surg 55B: 478–481
Bethen D, Winter RB, Luther L, Moe, Bradford DS, Longstein JE, et al (1981) Spinal disorders of dwarfism. Review of the literature and report of 80 cases. J Bone Joint Surg 63A: 1412–1425
Breig A (1978) Adverse mechanical tension in the central nervous system. Wiley, New York, pp 61–83
Burke SW, French HG, Roberts JM, Johnston CE, Whitecloud III TS, Edmunds JO (1985) Chronic atlanto-axial instability in Down's syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg 67(A): 1356–1360
Childers JC, Wilson FC (1971) Biparitate atlas. Review of the literature and report of a case. J Bone Joint Surg 58A: 578–582
Cremers MJG, Bol E, Roos F de, Gijn J van (1993) Risk of sports activities in children with Down's syndrome and atlantoaxial instability. Lancet 342: 511–514
Crockard HA, Heilman AE, Stevens JM (1993) Progressive myelopathy secondary to odontoid features: clinical, radiological and surgical features. J Neurosurg 78: 579–586
Elliott S (1988) The odontoid process in children — is it hypoplastic? Clin Radiol 39: 391–393
Elliott S, Morton RE, Whitelaw RA (1988) Atlanto-axial instability and abnormalities of the odontoid in Down's syndrome. Arch Dis Child 63: 1484–1489
Fielding JW (1965) Disappearance of the central portion of the odontoid process. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg 47A: 1228–1230
Fielding JW, Hensinger RN, Hawkins RJ (1980) Os odontoideum. J Bone Joint Surg 62A: 376–383
Gadow HF (1933) The evolution of the vertebral column: a contribution to the study of vertebral phylogency. In: Gaskell JF, Green HH (eds) Cambridge University Press, London 6–23, pp 55–109
Galindo MJ, Francis WR (1983) Atlantal fracture in a child through congenital anterior and posterior arch defects. A case report. Clin Orthop 178: 220–222
Greenberg AD (1968) Atlanto-axial dislocations. Brain 91: 655–684
Gruss P, Kessel M (1991) Axial specification in higher vertebrates. Curr Opin Genet Dev 1: 204–210
Gwynn JL, Smith, JL (1962) Acquired and congenital absence of the odontoid process. Am J Roentgenol 88: 424–431
Hall JE, Simmons ED, Darylchuk K, Barnes PD (1990) Instability of the cervical spine and neurological involvement in klippel feil syndrome: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg 72A: 460–462
Harkey HL, Crockard HA, Stevens JM, Smith R, Ransford AO (1990) The operative management of basilar impression in osteogenesis imperfecta. Neurosurgery 27: 782–786
Hawkins RJ, Fielding JW, Thompson WJ (1976) Os odontoideum: congenital or acquired. J Bone Joint Surg 58A: 413–414
Hensinger RN, Fielding JW, Hawkins RJ (1978) Congenital anomalies of the odontoid process. Orthop Clin North Am 9: 901–902
Holt RG, Helms CA, Muck PL, Gillepsy T (1989) Hypertrophy of C1–2 anterior arch: a useful sign to distinguish os odontoideum from acute dens fracture. Radiology 173: 207–209
James D, Crockard HA (1991) Surgical access to the base of skull and upper cervical spine by extended maxillotomy. Neurosurgery 29(3): 411–416
Jenkins FA (1969) The evolution and development of the dens of the mammelian axis. Anat Rec 164: 173–184
Kopits SE (1976) Orthopedic complications of dwarfism. Clin Orthop 114: 153–179
Kopits SE, Perovic MN, McKusick V, Robinson RA, Bailey JA (1972) Congenital atlanto-axial dislocations in various forms of dwarfism. In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. J Bone Joint Surg 54A: 1349–1350
Langer LO, Carey LS (1966) The roentgenographic features of K S Mu-copolysaccharidosis of Morquio (Morquio-Brailsford's disease). Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 59A: 340–344
Marin-Padilla M (1991) Cephalic axial skeletal-neural dysraphic disorders: embryology and pathology. Can J Neurol Sci 18: 153–169
McAlister A (1893) Notes of the development and variations of the atlas. J Anat Physiol 27: 519–542
McManners T (1983) Odontoid hypoplasia. Br J Radiol 21: 171–181
Menezes A (1987) Embryology and development of craniovertebral. In: Gilder JC van, Menezes AH, Dolan KD (eds) The cranio-vertebral junction and its abnormalities. Fatura Publishing Company, Mount Kisco, New York, pp 1–8
Müller F, O'Rahilly R (1980) The human chondro-cranium at the end of the embryonic period proper, with particular reference to the nervous system. Am J Anat 117: 3–19
Müller F, O'Rahilly R, Benson DR (1986) The early origin of vertebral anomalies as illustrated by butterfly vertebra. J Anat 149: 157–169
Nelson J, Thomas PS (1988) Clinical findings in 12 patients with MPS IV A (Morquio's disease). Further evidence for heterogeneity. Part III. Odontoid dysplasia. Clin Genet 33: 126–130
Ogden JA, Murphy MH, Southwich WO (1986) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development XIII. C1–C2 inter-relationships. Skeletal Radiol 15: 433–438
O'Rahilly R, Müller F (1984) The early development of the hypoglossal nerve and occipital somites in stages human embryos. Am J Anat 169: 237–257
O'Rahilly R, Müller F, Meyer DB (1983) The human vertebral column at the end of the embryonic period proper. 2. The occipito-cervical region. J Anat Physiol 136: 181–195
Pia HW (1983) Craniocervical malformations. Neurosurg Rev 6: 169–175
Ricciardi JE, Kaufer H, Louis DS (1976) Acquired os odontoideum following acute ligament injury. A case report. J Bone Joint Surgery 58A: 41–412
Saltzman CL, Henzinger RM, Blane CE, Phillips WA, Arbor A (1991) Familial cervical dysplasia. J Bone Joint Surg 73A: 163–171
Schiff DCM, Parke WW (1973) The arterial supply of the odontoid process. J Bone Joint Surg 55(A): 1450–1456
Sherk HH, Nicholson JT (1970) Fractures of the atlas. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 52: 1017–1024
Spranger JW, Langer LO, Weidemann HR (1974) Bone dysplasias. An atlas of constitutional disorders of skeletal development. W B Saunders, Philadelphia
Stevens JM, Kendall BE, Crockard HA, Ransford A (1991) The odontoid process in Morquio-Brailsford's disease. The effects of occipito-cervical fusion. J Bone Joint Surg 73B: 851–858
Stevens JM, Kling Chong W, Barber C, Kendall BE, Crockard HA (1994) A new appraisal of abnormalities of the odontoid process associated with atlanto-axial subluxation and neurological disability. Brain 117(1): 133–148
Stillwell WT, Fielding JW (1978) Acquired os odontoideum. Clin Orthop 135: 71
Truex RC, Johnson CH (1978) Congenital anomalies of the upper cervical spine. Orthop Clin North Am 9: 891–899
Von Torklus D, Gehle W (1973) The upper cervical spine. Grune and Stratton, London, pp 8–83
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crockard, H.A., Stevens, J.M. Craniovertebral junction anomalies in inherited disorders: Part of the syndrome or caused by the disorder?. Eur J Pediatr 154, 504–512 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074823
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074823