Injury of the ligamentous apparatus

If the ligamentous apparatus of the upper cervicals is injured, instability can occur between the head and neck. Injury to the ligamentous apparatus can also occur as a result of an accident or other violent impact. Such instabilities lead not only to pain but also to dizziness, loss of consciousness, drowsiness and disorientation.

The dizziness is then usually not rotary vertigo but rather a persistent feeling of dizziness and discomfort. Severe injuries in the context of an accident can lead to death. The ligaments that are injured here are usually the alligaments (also called wing ligaments) that secure the upper cervicals.

Other ligament structures and joint capsules in the upper cervicals can also lead to the symptoms described above in the case of overstretching, rupture and lesions. Depending on which structures are affected and how badly they are injured, different therapies are indicated. In the case of very severe injuries to the bony structures and injuries to the capsule-ligament apparatus, surgery is necessary. Otherwise, therapy consists of stabilizing the spine with bandages and active exercises as well as painkillers to alleviate the symptoms.

Subluxation between Atlas and Axis

In the case of very severe injuries to the ligamentous apparatus and a complete rupture of the joint capsule, there is a risk of subluxation between the first two cervical vertebrae (atlas and axis). This is an incomplete dislocation of the joint.There is a very high instability between the head and the cervical spine, which can lead to a basilar impression. When this happens, the cervical spine shifts towards the base of the skull because it is no longer sufficiently secured and presses on the brain stem. This results in a typical so-called brainstem symptomatology consisting of dizziness, drowsiness, visual disturbances and pronounced disturbances of consciousness.

Cancer diseases

Metastases and, rarely, primary tumors (tumors that have developed in the cervical spine) can also lead to a space requirement in the area of important structures such as the upper cervical joints and cause instability and associated dizziness. Depending on the type and extent of the cancer, therapy includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.