Clin Pain.  2019 Dec;18(2):92-96. 10.35827/cp.2019.18.2.92.

Torticollis and Atlantoaxial Rotatory Subluxation after Chiropractic Therapy

• Kim D
• Yun WH
• Park J
• Park JH

• KMID: 2470354
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35827/cp.2019.18.2.92

Abstract

Torticollis is an abnormal, asymmetric head or neck position which usually caused by imbalance of paracervical muscles. The traumatic torticollis can be caused by following events; atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation, atlantoaxial dislocation, cervical vertebral fractures, and injury to the cervical musculature. Especially, acute traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation usually presents limitation of cervical range of motion without pain or neurologic deficit. We report a case of a 58 year-old man who developed the acute atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation right after the chiropractic therapy, which induced the limitation of cervical range of motion to 52.5% of normal range. The magnetic resonance image revealed the facture of the odontoid process and the partial injury in transverse ligaments of the atlas. He underwent intramuscular botulinum toxin injection and 10 days of continuous cervical traction 15 hours a day using a 5 kg weight. The range of the cervical motion restored up to 90.2% of normal range.

Keyword

Atlantoaxial joint; Chiropractic; Torticollis

MeSH Terms

Atlanto-Axial Joint
Botulinum Toxins
Chiropractic*
Dislocations
Head
Ligaments
Muscles
Neck
Neurologic Manifestations
Odontoid Process
Range of Motion, Articular
Reference Values
Torticollis*
Traction
Botulinum Toxins