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Cranio Vertebral Pathologies
Cranio Vertebral Pathologies
The craniocervical junction consists of the bone that forms the base of the skull (occipital bone) and the first two bones in the spine (which are in the neck): the atlas and axis. Disorders that affect the large opening at the bottom of the occipital bone (called the foramen magnum) are a particular concern because important structures pass through this opening. These structures include the lowest part of the brain (brain stem), which connects to the spine, as well as some nerves and blood vessels.
Craniocervical junction disorders may involve bones that are
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Fused together
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Abnormally formed or underdeveloped
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Out of alignment (misaligned)
Misaligned bones may be completely separated (dislocated) or partially misaligned (subluxed).
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Craniocervical junction disorders can put pressure on the lower parts of the brain, the top part of the spinal cord, or nearby nerves. The resulting symptoms can be serious. They include paralysis, weakness, and loss of sensation.
Symptoms
Cervicocranial syndrome has a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms[4] often include:
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Vertigo
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Chronic Headache aka Cephalea
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Tinnitus
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Facial Pain
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Ear Pain
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Dysphagia
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Carotidynia
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Neck Pain (ex: during movement such as extension and flexion)
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Syncope
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Sinus congestion
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Neck Crepitus Sound
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Loss of vision
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Involuntary eye-movement
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Severe Fatigue
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Chest Pain
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Brain Fog
Causes
The cause of cervicobrachial syndrome is either due to a defect (genetic mutation or development of diseases later in life) or an injury pertaining to the neck: the cervical area, that damages the spinal nerves traveling through the cervical region resulting in ventral subluxation. Examples of cases that can result in cervicocranial syndrome are: car accidents, trauma, osteoarthritis, tumor, degenerative pathology, and other numerous causes of vertebral instability. There is no single cause that can mainly cause cervicobrachial syndrome.
Causes
Once there is an onset of the symptoms in the patient, the patients are screened through cervical-spinal imaging techniques: X-ray, CT, and MRI. The scanning technique points out any cervical vertebrae defects and misalignments. When a cervicobrachial syndrome is caused as a result of a genetic disease, then family history and genetic testing aid in making an accurate diagnosis of the cervicobrachial syndrome.
Treatment
The treatment options vary since there are numerous causes of cervicobrachial syndrome. General treatments include:
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Pressure release via realignment of the vertebrae
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Pain medication: acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen
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Manipulation of the neck by Chiropractor: For example, vertigo symptoms can be relieved
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Neck braces to avoid movement of the neck and provide stability
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Physical therapy
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Injection: Combination (anesthetic and cortisone) drugs to help alleviate the pain
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Surgery to restore function and form of the spine
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Cervical spinal cord stimulation (Cscs)
When cervicocranical syndrome is caused by a mutation in genes and it runs in the family due to other co-morbidities, genetic counseling helps patients cover risks, prevention and expectations of caring and passing genes to a newborn.