Craniocervical instability

Craniocervical instability (CCI) is a <a href="/facts/Disease/55eeQlGL">medical condition</a> characterized by excessive movement of the <a href="/facts/Vertebra/qAdLhD5H">vertebra</a> at the <a href="/facts/Atlanto-occipital_joint/QwJIBtgr">atlanto-occipital joint</a> and the <a href="/facts/Atlanto-axial_joint/1rhEPnpJ">atlanto-axial joint</a> located between the <a href="/facts/Skull/A9Wp63Np">skull</a> and the top two vertebra, known as <a href="/facts/Atlas_(anatomy)/rdfMDmBH">C1</a> and <a href="/facts/Axis_(anatomy)/nk9516No">C2</a>. The condition can cause neural injury and compression of nearby structures, including the <a href="/facts/Brain_stem/lD3WQbXM">brain stem</a>, <a href="/facts/Spinal_cord/XbWLr917">spinal cord</a>, <a href="/facts/Vagus_nerve/cKQR0rLm">vagus nerve</a>, and <a href="/facts/Vertebral_artery/BBM3BMDm">vertebral artery</a>, resulting in a constellation of symptoms.
Craniocervical instability is more common in people with a <a href="/facts/Connective_tissue_disease/ST6bwhxb">connective tissue disease</a>, including <a href="/facts/Ehlers-Danlos_syndromes/UyXa1bJ5">Ehlers-Danlos syndromes</a>, <a href="/facts/Osteogenesis_imperfecta/jKr64on7">osteogenesis imperfecta</a>, and <a href="/facts/Rheumatoid_arthritis/qFK4Xwv7">rheumatoid arthritis</a>. It is frequently co-morbid with <a href="/facts/Atlanto-axial_joint/1rhEPnpJ">atlanto-axial joint</a> instability, <a href="/facts/Chiari_malformation/9BKbwYzr">Chiari malformation</a>, or <a href="/facts/Tethered_spinal_cord_syndrome/wkm3MtvH">tethered spinal cord syndrome</a>.
The condition can be brought on by <a href="/facts/Injury_in_humans/PJ7CbnMQ">physical trauma</a>, including <a href="/facts/Whiplash_(medicine)/RhbC0F9y">whiplash</a>, <a href="/facts/Ligamentous_laxity/ECWelxqT">laxity of the ligaments</a> surrounding the joint, or other damage to the surrounding connective tissue.

Craniocervical instability open-in-new

Craniocervical instability