Atlantoaxial Instability Treatment Handout

Congenital conditions, trauma, degenerative disorders, and inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis most commonly cause atlantoaxial instability.

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of clinical examination, imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, and sometimes dynamic fluoroscopy to assess the stability of the cervical spine.

Untreated AAI can lead to progressive neurological deficits, severe pain, and, in extreme cases, paralysis.