Grisel’s syndrome in adults: A case report

BACKGROUND: The non traumatic, post inflammatory atlantoaxial rotatory instability, also known as Grisel’s syndrome is a relatively rare condition usually affecting children. Adult cases are rare and even less frequently reported with separate case reports describing a single patient. Although antibiotic treatment and close neurological monitoring seem to be the gold standard of care, there is no general consensus on the optimal timing and extent of the surgical treatment. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of C1-C2 spondylitis, secondary to retropharyngeal abscess, without atlantoaxial instability on initial evaluation that progressed to C1-C2 subluxation with rapidly developing myelopathy 3 months after optimal antibiotic therapy and complete clinical and biochemical remission. CONCLUSION: Grisel’s syndrome is a rare condition in adults with secondary instability in spite of successful antibacterial treatment, which requires decompression and delayed surgical fixation in our case.