ACQUIRED SPINAL-CORD LESION ASSOCIATED WITH OS ODONTOIDEUM CAUSING DETERIORATION IN DYSTONIC CEREBRAL-PALSY - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THELITERATURE

A boy with a dystonic quadriparesis presented with acquired paralysis, spasticity, and a feeding disorder. Spinal MRI revealed a cervical co rd lesion and of odontoideum. Excessive movement of the neck, leading to failure of ossification of the dens and then to cervical cord traum a was the likely mechanism. The poor outcome of this subject is descri bed, emphasising the need to pay careful attention to neurological cha nges in children with extrapyramidal cerebral palsy, who may be at par ticular risk of cord pathology. The management issues are discussed.