Traumatic neuropathy of second cervical spinal nerves

The second cervical spinal nerves are unduly vulnerable to forcible approximation of the arches of the atlas and axis and to excessive rotation of the atlas on the axis. Sequelae of such injury include sensory aberrations ranging from loss of feeling to severe neuralgia and disorders of balance. Diagnosis of second cervical neuropathy may be difficult when there are multiple injuries to the cervical spine, but most cases clear up spontaneously within one to three years.