Os odontoideum associated with a retro-odontoid cyst treated with posterior C1-C3 fixation: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Os odontoideum is a rare abnormality of the upper cervical spine, and os odontoideum associated with a retro-odontoid cyst has been described as a marker of local instability.

Case description: This paper reports a case of a 52-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with os odontoideum associated with a retro-odontoid cyst. The patient underwent posterior C1-C3 fixation without surgical removal of the cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) two days later revealed that the retro-odontoid cyst was still present and that there were no significant changes to it when compared with the preoperative MRI.

Conclusion: Retro-odontoid cysts associated with unstable os odontoideum can lead to symptomatic spinal cord compression. Posterior C1-C3 fixation can restore atlantoaxial stability by allowing the gradual resorption of the cyst and ensuring spinal cord decompression. Fixation can also avoid the surgical risk associated with a high-riding vertebral artery.

Keywords: atlantoaxial stability; gradual resorption of cyst; os odontoideum; posterior c1-C3 fixation; retro-odontoid cyst.