DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.010

Pages: 1089-1091

Bony anomalies of cranio-vertebral junction may cause compression of vital structures and neuro-vascular complications. The congenital atlanto-occipital fusion is a rare phenomenon occurring in 0.08 – 3.63% of subjects. It results from inappropriate segmentation of cervical sclerotome during first week of fetal life. Here we report a unique case of symmetric complete atlanto-occipital fusion in an adult male skull, among 50 skulls studied. The knowledge of such anomaly may be of significance to orthopaedists, physiotherapist, neurosurgeons, radiologists and anaesthesiologists dealing with this area.