RADIOLOGIC PREVALENCE OF ADVANCED LATERAL C1-C2 OSTEOARTHRITIS

Study Design. The lateral C1-C2 (atlantoaxial) joints were evaluated r etrospectively in 355 patients referred for radiographs of the paranas al sinuses. Objectives. to determine the radiologic prevalence of adva nced lateral atlantoaxial osteoarthritis. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have shown a relation between atlantoaxial osteoarthr itis and referred pain in the suboccipital region. However, the radiol ogic prevalence of this degenerative disorder is unknown. Methods. Fiv e hundred radiographs of the paranasal sinuses were evaluated retrospe ctively. Both lateral atlantoaxial joints were clearly visible on occi pitofrontal projections in 355 examinations. Each lateral atlantoaxial joint was considered severely degenerated when advanced narrowing or obliteration of the joint space, subchondral sclerosis, and/or osteoph ytosis were present. Results. Atlantoaxial osteoarthritis was found in 4.8% of the patients. The radiologic prevalence of advanced degenerat ive changes at the lateral atlantoaxial joint(s) was found to increase with age, ranging from 5.4% in the sixth decade to 18.2% in the ninth decade of life. Conclusion. Because advanced degenerative changes at the lateral atlantoaxial joint scan cause suboccipital neck pain, thes e findings should be included in the differential diagnosis in older p atients with this symptom.