Unusual presentation of an unusual disease: A very delayed diagnosis of Grisel`s syndrome
Cevriye Mülkoğlu 1 ,Hakan Genç 1 ,Seçil Vural 1 ,Başak Mansız-Kaplan 1
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
DOI :
10.5606/tftrd.2021.4967
Grisel`s syndrome (GS) is a rare syndrome which refers only to non-traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation. This syndrome predominantly
occurs in young children following an upper respiratory infection or otolaryngologic procedures. An eight-year-old girl with a delayed
diagnosis of GS was admitted to our outpatient clinic with complaints of painful torticollis and neck stiffness. Three-dimensional
computed tomography revealed rotatory atlantoaxial subluxation. After consulting with the neurosurgery department, the patient
underwent surgery. The significance of this patient was that she was unable to be diagnosed early and atlantoaxial subluxation remained
hidden for five years without any complications. In conclusion, this rare case highlights the importance of delayed diagnosis of GS and
clinicians should be aware of this syndrome.
Keywords :
Grisel`s syndrome, neck stiffness, non-traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation, torticollis
