- Discussion:
- involvement can lead to kyphosis, facet ankylosis, & atlantoaxial subluxation;
- the majority of patients w/ polyarticular JRA may show C-spine involvement;
- Radiographs:
- anterior erosion of the odontoid process;
- anterior posterior erosion of odontoid process;
- subluxation of C1 on C2;
- focal soft tissue calcification anterior to the ring of C1
- ankylosis of apophyseal joints (often leading to ankylosis & fusion of vertebrals bodies);
- longitudinal and circumferential growth abnormalities of adjacent vertebral bodies following spontaneous posterior fusions
- subaxial subluxations between C2 and C7 (often associated w/ ankylosis of facet joints above and below the area of subluxations)