RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS OF THE CERVICAL-SPINE

Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the cervical spine, resulting in clinical and radiographic findings. For most patients with rheumato id arthritis the cervical involvement represents a relatively benign p rocess, but, in a small percentage of these patients, a progressive in stability pattern develops that may compromise neural or vascular stru ctures. The rate of neural compromise because of cervical instability ranges from 11% to 58%. The clinical manifestation may be radiculopath y, myelopathy, quadriplegia, and, in extreme instances, sudden death.