[starsmum]

#10971

My 8 yr old daughter woke up one morning with a stiff neck and torticollis 10 months ago. After a CT scan she was diagnosed with a rotary subluxation of C0, C1 and C2. She was given physio therapy for 3 months which did not make any difference, and possibly made it worse. Then she was given a manipulation and a halo vest which she wore for 13 weeks. As soon as they took the halo off her neck flopped back again. Another scan discovered a deterioration of the C1 bone and the decision was made to perform a cervical fusion.
My question is, do you consider this a serious problem? My daughter’s hospital do not seem to think it is and we have to wait for weeks for them to make an appointment to see her. Her fusion operation has been cancelled twice because of emergencies. My daughter is in pain and cannot hold her head up without a collar. I feel like our life is on hold, but mostly I worry about what would happen if it became worse. Are the surgeons right in being nonchalant about it?
Thank you for your help.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#10979

Your daughter might have had Grisel’s Syndrome. This is a rare disorder that occurs after a typical upper respiratory syndrome like a cold. For some unknown reason the ligaments of Occiput to C2 become involved in a severe inflammatory destructive syndrome. This causes rotary subluxation and instability.

If this syndrome occurs, many times a fusion is needed. As long as she is in a well fitting neck collar like an Aspen collar, she should be safe. Why she is cancelled for surgery so many times indicates to me you must be in a system where triage is typical. This means that emergency surgeries always come first and elective surgical patients are put in the back of the line.

Press the issue to the surgeon and see if he or she can accommodate your daughter.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[starsmum]

#11011

Thank you for your reply. I too have considered Grisel’s Syndrome particularly as she had a sore throat just a couple of day previously. She has now been admitted to hospital and today had a halo fitted in readiness for the fusion on Wednesday. Hopefully, my little girl will be fixed then, but I still worry about her future.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#11013

Her neck will be stiff when she heals. The C1-2 articulation is responsible for about 50% of rotation. I would be careful with severe impact activities after surgery but she should be aerobically motivated.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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