Clinical significance of measuring the lateral atlantodental interval in children with tic disorders

TL;DR

This study finds that children with tic disorders show a link between head shaking tics and asymmetry in the lateral atlantodental interval, but not with overall tic severity.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel clinical observation linking atlantoaxial joint asymmetry to specific tic symptoms in children.

Findings

Children with tics showed a mean VBLADI of 1.32 mm, with a range of 0.62–2.19 mm.

Head shaking tics were strongly associated with VBLADI >2.2 mm after adjusting for confounders.

No correlation was found between VBLADI levels and overall tic severity measured by the Yale scale.

Abstract

The pathophysiology and causation of tic disorders (TD) remain unclear. Clinically, children with TD with head and neck tics, trunk tics, often showing associated spinal abnormalities, may be closely related to the atlantoaxial joint. The purpose of this research is to assess the level of lateral atlantodental interval (LADI) in children with TD and to explore the correlation between TD and the asymmetry of bilateral LADI.

The variance in the bilateral lateral atlantodental interval (VBLADI) level was investigated in a retrospective analysis of 80 children with TD between July 2021 and December 2024. Meanwhile, examining the correlation between tic symptoms and VBLADI levels based on VBLADI ≤ 2 mm and >2 mm for grouping.

The mean VBLADI among children with TD was 1.32 mm (range: 0.62–2.19 mm). A robust and statistically significant association was identified between head shaking and VBLADI >2.2 mm, even after adjusting for potential confounders and correcting for multiple comparisons [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 12.64; FDR q-value = 0.035). However, no linear correlation was observed between VBLADI levels and the total Yale Global Tic Severity Scale score (p = 0.780).

Asymmetry in the bilateral LADI is associated with TD symptoms, particularly head shaking. Nonetheless, VBLADI levels do not correlate with the overall severity of TD.

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