Atlanto-occipital instability in Down's syndrome.

The article discusses relationship between Down's syndrome and atlanto-axial instability by citing case report of a 25-year-old Caucasian female patient. She has no symptoms of high cervical cord compression or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Her general health has been good, although she is prone to chest infections and suffers from exertional dyspnoea. Views of the cervical spine in both flexion and extension, demonstrate no instability of the atlanto-axial joint. Joint disorders are common in patients with Down's syndrome.