Study on the causes and mechanism of atlantoaxial dislocation

Atlantoaxial joint, which is located in the body of the upper cervical spine, plays an important role in bearing and motion. It is the nerve center of medulla oblongata and spinal cord, and a lot of other important structures, such as neck arteriovenous and great occipital nerve, were distributed in this area, therefore the study on reasons and mechanism of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) is of great guiding significance for clinical treatment. This article will explore the specific mechanisms of AAD from the aspects of anatomy of atlantoaxial joint and surrounding structures, biomechanics and histology. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.03.012