{"id":"60ef562d-0088-4b04-95dc-d39e0aa090eb","slug":"unstable-os-odontoideum-contributing-to-cervical-myelopathy-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea","title":"Unstable os odontoideum contributing to cervical myelopathy and obstructive sleep apnea","authors":["Abolfazl Rahimizadeh","Zahed Malekmohammadi","Mona Karimi","Ava Rahimizadeh","Naser Asgari"],"abstract":"Background: Sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive cessation of breathing during sleep. It may be attributed to obstructive, central, or mixed pathologies close to the upper airway resulting in a decreased diameter of the oropharyngeal tract. Case Description: A 36-year-old male with progressive cervicomedullary myelopathy/quadriparesis exhibited obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) attributed to an anteriorly displaced os odontoideum (OO). Atlantoaxial screw-rod stabilization resulted in improvement of both neurological function and OSA. Conclusion: A symptomatic unstable OO may contribute to suboccipital pain, progressive quadriparesis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and OSA. Appropriate operative intervention utilizing atlantoaxial screw-rod stabilization may help to resolve these deficits.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/60ef562d-0088-4b04-95dc-d39e0aa090eb/featured/hero-1781563867918.png","publishDate":"2019-06-28T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI-308-2019","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/60ef562d-0088-4b04-95dc-d39e0aa090eb/pdf"}