Neurogenic atrophy of suboccipital muscles after a cervical injury

This case report describes abnormalities in bilateral rectus capitis poster ior minor muscles in one individual with persistent head and neck pain. The se findings are muscle atrophy, fatty infiltration on magnetic resonance im aging, and electromyographic abnormalities compatible with denervated muscl e. The objective of the study contained herein was to determine if fatty in filtration on magnetic resonance imaging of the rectus capitis posterior mi nor muscle is the result of disuse or denervation. Electromyography and mag netic resonance imaging data were collected from normal and atrophied muscl es. Electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities compatibl e with denervation atrophy were detected. Although we cannot rule out aging or other unknown causes, we suspect that denervation is caused by nerve da mage from trauma to the C-1 dorsal ramus as a consequence of entrapment wit hin the rectus capitis posterior major muscle.