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Degeneration of the atlanto-axial joints: a histological study of 9 cases.
Journal article

Degeneration of the atlanto-axial joints: a histological study of 9 cases.

  • 2002-06-25
Published in:
  • Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica. - 2002
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atlanto-Axial Joint
Cervical Vertebrae
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Pain
Osteoarthritis
Range of Motion, Articular
Severity of Illness Index
Zygapophyseal Joint
English Degeneration of the lateral atlanto-axial joints (AAJ) has been described as a potential cause of severe neck pain. However, hardly any data are available on its incidence, especially in comparison to the lower cervical spine. In this histological study, we examined the AAJs in 9 specimens from elderly patients, graded the findings and compared them to those in the facet joints of the lower cervical spine. Most histological changes in the AAJs were mild, but the changes in the lower cervical spine were severer. Previous mechanical studies have described the AAJ as a very mobile joint with large neutral zones, which may explain the mild degree of osteoarthrosis found in these specimens.
Language
  • English
Open access status
closed
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/55782
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