Occipitalized os odontoideum: A case report

We report on a 36-year-old man presenting with a sudden onset of motor weakness and numbness in the upper extremities following a fall from a truck bed. Radiological findings demonstrated an os odontoideum and osseous continuity between the occiput and an ossicle, termed an "occipitalized os odontoideum." The occipitalized ossicle and atlas moved as a functional unit from the body of the axis. He underwent atlantoasxial stabilization with an atlas lateral mass screw and axis pedicle screw. Eighteen months later, he remained free of symptoms and showed solid bone fusion. Atlantoaxial stabilization resulted in an excellent clinical outcome for this condition. Our report provides useful knowledge regarding treatment of extremely rare osseous anomalies in the craniovertebral junction.