Kimmerle anomalisi (KA), servikal birinci vertebranın posterior arkı ve superior faset eklemin posterior marjini arasında ossifiye kemik köprü olarak tanımlanmış bir anatomik varyanttır. Komplet ya da inkomplet, tek ya da çift taraflı olabilir. Genellikle asemptomatik bir anomali olmasına rağmen, bazen vertebral arter ve ona komşu nöral yapılarda kompresyon oluşması sonucunda semptomatik hale gelebilir. Nedeni açıklanamayan baş boyun ağrıları ve vertebrobaziler yetmezlik bulguları ile kliniğe başvuran genç yetişkin bireylerde KA mutlaka akla getirilmesi gereken bir klinik durumdur. Bu hastaların servikal travmalardan, manipülatif uygulamalardan kaçınmaları önerilmelidir. Operasyon öncesi hasta değerlendirirken bu anomalinin dikkatlice değerlendirilmesi olası komplikasyonların gelişimini engellemek açısından önemlidir.

Kimmerle’s anomaly (KA) is an anatomical variant defined as an ossified bony bridge between the posterior arch of the first cervical vertebra and the posterior margin of the superior facet joint. It may be complete or incomplete, unilateral or bilateral. Although it is usually an asymptomatic anomaly; sometimes it may become symptomatic due to the development of pressure on the vertebral artery and the neural structures adjacent to the vertebral artery. KA is a clinical condition that must always be considered. These patients should be advised to avoid cervical trauma and manipulative interventions.These patients should be advised to avoid cervical traumas and manipulative applications. Careful evaluation of this anomaly during preoperative patient evaluation is important in order to prevent the development of possible complications.

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