# Physiotherapeutic Approach Towards Sensory and Motor Recovery in a Patient With Lateral Mass Fixation: A Report of a Rare Case

## TL;DR

A 23-year-old woman with cervical spine instability underwent surgery and physiotherapy, leading to improved mobility and daily functioning.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the effectiveness of physiotherapy in improving sensory and motor recovery after C1-C2 lateral mass fixation for atlantoaxial dislocation.

## Key findings

- Post-surgical physiotherapy improved the patient's balance, gait, and upper limb function.
- Functional Independence Measure and Berg Balance Scale scores showed significant improvement.
- Early intervention positively impacted the patient's quality of life and daily activities.

## Abstract

Atlantoaxial dislocations (AAD) are a diverse set of C1-C2 rotatory subluxations that include the inferior and superior axial facet articulations. C1-C2 segments are both covered by cranial-cervical ligaments, indicating that AAD would damage both joints. Whenever the posterior elements are missing or impaired, lateral mass screw fixation has replaced alternative posterior cervical fixation procedures as the preferred treatment for securing the sub-axial cervical spine. An increase in muscle tone, hyperreflexia, pathological reflexes, digit/hand clumsiness, and gait deviations caused by spinal cord compression at the cervical level are the most common clinical features. A 23-year-old female patient came with the chief complaint of weakness, tingling sensation, and numbness in both upper and lower limbs along with imbalance while walking. She had a history of falls which was managed conservatively. As the symptoms progressed, an MRI, a CT scan, and an X-ray of the neck were done to rule out the level of injury which revealed AAD, and the patient was operated on for C1-C2 lateral mass fixation. Post-operatively, the patient was referred to the physiotherapy department for further management. The patient's quality of life and daily functioning were positively affected after undergoing early intervention as measured by the Functional Independence Measure, Neck Disability Index, Berg Balance Scale, and Dynamic Gait Index.