General considerations about atlantoaxial dislocation management

Abstract

Atlanto‐occipital (AO) and atlantoaxial (AA) joints allow complex movements of the craniocervical junction and stabilize the head. Almost 50% of cervical spine flexion and extension movements occur at AO joint, while rotation is provided by the articulation of the dens (C2) with C1 and transverse ligament. The anatomical relationship among these structures is based in osseous elements (occipital condyles and lateral masses of C1 and C2), C1‐C2 facet joints (oriented in the axial plane), and ligaments (the most important are the transverse ligament and the alar ligaments), with no intervertebral discs participating in stabilization and load sharing.