Grisel's syndrome refers to a subluxation of the cervical spine at the atlantoaxial joint due to a pain-induced protective posture based on inflammation in the throat, nose, and pharyngeal area.

Clinical Presentation

Grisel's syndrome includes the following symptom complex[^1]:

Severe neck pain
Tilted position of the head
Shift of the atlas to the side with subluxation

Etiology

Grisel's syndrome can occur post-traumatically, in the context of rheumatic diseases, following soft tissue inflammation in the nasopharyngeal area such as tonsillitis, but also after surgical procedures like tonsillectomy.

Imaging

Due to the involvement of soft tissue structures, MRI is the imaging modality of choice when Grisel's syndrome is suspected.