The conditions of atlantoaxial instability and subsequent dislocation have raised much concern in recent years. Lack of knowledge in the medical and educational professions hampered efforts by Special Olympics, Inc. in 1983 to encourage screening of all Down syndrome participants prior to athletic competition. As a result, numerous articles on these conditions have been published in the last few years attempting to promote awareness. This paper looks at atlantoaxial instability and dislocation in depth, with the hope of providing knowledge to those who do not understand the concern surrounding these conditions.
