A cervical myelopathy due to invaginated laminae of the axis into the spinal canal.

Abstract

A case report and review of previous literature are presented. The objective of this manuscript was to report a case of cervical myelopathy due to anomalous laminae of the axis in a patient with spina bifida. In previous studies, few cases of invaginated anomalous laminae of the axis have been reported. Treatment was surgical removal of the invaginated laminae. The patient's history, clinical examination, imaging findings, and treatment were reported. Characteristic findings were revealed from imaging studies, a multiplane reconstruction of the CT images, and a stereolithographic model of the cervical spine. The patient was treated with a posterior decompressive operation. The outcome was satisfactory, with an improvement in the patient's neurology. This is a report of a rare characteristic anomaly of the laminae of the axis. A multiplane reconstruction of the CT images and a stereolithographic model were useful for treatment of this case. Possible causes of this anomaly may be the failure of ossification or fusion of the embryological term.