CERVICAL CONGENITAL KYPHOSIS WITH ATLANTOAXIAL DISLOCATION

Congenital kyphosis and atlantoaxial dislocation in a 13-year-old boy was treated by a C1 laminectomy and C2-C5 laminoplasty with fusion fro m the occiput to C2. This resulted in postoperative neurologic deterio ration, but a secondary anterior C3 vertebrectomy followed by a C2-C5 fusion helped restore neural function. In the presence of congenital c ervical kyphosis, anterior rather than posterior decompression and fus ion is recommended, particularly in the presence of a stenotic spinal canal.