• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery
  • About Us
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Neurosurgery Faculty
    • Our History
    • Clinical Quality Program
    • Innovation and Technology
    • Giving
    • eNewsletters
    • In the News
    • Webcasts
    • Webinars
    • Resources and Links
    • Global Neuro Health
    • Golden Portal Awards
    • Visionary Ball
    • Lab Party
    • UCLA Neurosurgery App
    • Spotlights
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Neurosurgery Faculty
    • Our History
    • Clinical Quality Program
    • eNewsletters
    • Innovation and Technology
    • In the News
    • Webcasts
    • Webinars
    • Giving
    • Global Neuro Health
    • Lab Party
    • Spotlights
  • Conditions Treated
    • Alphabetical Conditions
    • Brain Conditions
    • Brain Tumor
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Spine Conditions
    • Acoustic Neuroma
    • Adult Tethered Cord
    • Acromegaly
    • Acute Subdural Hematomas
    • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Aqueductal Stenosis
    • Arachnoid Cysts
    • Arnold Chiari Malformation
    • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Astrocytoma
    • Ballism
    • Basilar Invagination
    • Brachial Plexus Injury
    • Brain Aneurysm
    • Brain Attack (Stroke)
    • Brain AVM
    • Brain Conditions
    • Brain Metastases
    • Brainstem Glioma
    • Carotid Dissection
    • Carotid Stenosis
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Causalgia
    • Cavernous Angioma
    • Cerebral Aneurysms
    • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
    • Chordomas
    • Chorea
    • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
    • Colloid Cyst
    • Coma
    • Concussion
    • Congenital Dermal Sinus
    • Cranial GunShot Wounds
    • Craniopharyngioma
    • Craniosynostosis
    • Cushing's Disease
    • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
    • Dandy Walker Syndrome
    • Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Dermoid Tumor
    • Disc Herniation
    • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
    • Dystonia
    • Ependymoma
    • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
    • Epidural Hematomas
    • Epilepsy
    • Essential Tremor
    • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
    • Facet Joint Syndrome
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
    • Ganglioglioma
    • Glioblastoma
    • Germinoma
    • Glioma
    • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
    • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
    • Hemangioblastomas
    • Hemi-Facial Spasm
    • Hydrocephalus
    • Hyperhidrosis
    • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
    • Intracranial Hypotension
    • JPA
    • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
    • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
    • Lymphoma
    • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
    • Medulloblastoma
    • Meningioma Brain Tumor
    • Meralgia Paresthetica
    • Metastatic Brain Tumors
    • Moyamoya Disease
    • Myelomeningocele
    • Myelopathy
    • Nelson's Syndrome
    • Neurocysticercosis
    • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
    • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
    • Oligodendroglioma
    • Optic Nerve Glioma
    • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
    • Parkinsons Syndrome
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
    • Peripheral Nerve Injury
    • Phantom Limb Pain
    • Pineal Tumor
    • Pineoblastoma
    • Pineocytoma
    • Platybasia
    • Postherpetic Neuralgia
    • Post-Traumatic Seizures
    • Primary CNS Lymphoma
    • Pseudotumor Cerebri
    • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
    • Recurrent Adenomas
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Schwannomas
    • Scoliosis
    • Seizure
    • Skull Fracture
    • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
    • Spasticity
    • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Spinal Compression Fractures
    • Spine Conditions
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
    • Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Stenosis
    • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    • Syringomyelia
    • Tethered Cord Syndrome
    • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
    • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
    • Torticollis
    • Traumatic Hematomas
    • Trigeminal Neuralgia
    • Trochanteric Bursitis
    • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  • Clinical Programs
    • Brain Tumor Center
    • Cerebrovascular
    • Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery
    • Neurotrauma & Neuro Critical Care
    • Pediatric Neurosurgery
    • Peripheral Nerve
    • Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
    • Spine Center
    • Brain Tumor Center
    • Cerebrovascular
    • Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery
    • Neurotrauma & Neuro Critical Care
    • Pediatric Neurosurgery
    • Peripheral Nerve
    • Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
    • Spine Center
  • For Patients
    • Appointment Request
    • Telemedicine and Remote Second Opinion
    • Contact Us
    • Maps and Directions
    • myUCLAhealth
    • UCLA Neurosurgery app
    • Preparing for Neurosurgery
    • Peer Support Program
    • Going Home After Surgery
    • Billing Information
    • Suspect a Brain Injury?
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient and Family Advisory Council
    • Resources and Links
    • Appointment Request
    • Telemedicine and Remote Second Opinion
    • Contact Us
    • myUCLAhealth
    • UCLA Neurosurgery App
    • Preparing for Neurosurgery
    • Peer Support Program
    • Going Home After Surgery
    • Billing Information
    • Suspect a Brain Injury?
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient and Family Advisory Council
    • Resources and Links
  • Research Innovation
    • Research Scientists
    • Brain Injury Research Center (BIRC)
    • Brain Tumor SPORE
    • Clinical Trials
    • Research Grant Funding
    • Surgical Neurology International
    • Publications
  • Education
    • Residency Training
    • Fellowship Programs
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Calendar
    • Events
    • Conferences and Courses
    • 100 Subjects in Neurosurgery
    • Submit Anonymous Feedback
  • For Healthcare Professionals
    • How to Refer a Patient
    • Clinical Updates
  • Find a Doctor
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Neurosurgery

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Acromegaly
  • Acute Subdural Hematomas
  • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma
  • Ballism
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brain Aneurysm
  • Brain Attack (Stroke)
  • Brain AVM
  • Brain Conditions
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brainstem Glioma
  • Carotid Dissection
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Cavernous Angioma
  • Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
  • Chordomas
  • Chorea
  • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Coma
  • Concussion
  • Congenital Dermal Sinus
  • Cranial GunShot Wounds
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Cushing's Disease
  • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
  • Dandy Walker Syndrome
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Dermoid Tumor
  • Disc Herniation
  • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Dystonia
  • Ependymoma
  • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
  • Epidural Hematomas
  • Epilepsy
  • Essential Tremor
  • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
  • Ganglioglioma
  • Glioblastoma
  • Germinoma
  • Glioma
  • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
  • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
  • Hemangioblastomas
  • Hemi-Facial Spasm
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • JPA
  • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
  • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
  • Lymphoma
  • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Meningioma Brain Tumor
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Metastatic Brain Tumors
  • Moyamoya Disease
  • Myelomeningocele
  • Myelopathy
  • Nelson's Syndrome
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
  • Parkinsons Syndrome
  • Pediatric Conditions
  • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Pineal Tumor
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pineocytoma
  • Platybasia
  • Postherpetic Neuralgia
  • Post-Traumatic Seizures
  • Primary CNS Lymphoma
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri
  • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
  • Recurrent Adenomas
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schwannomas
  • Scoliosis
  • Seizure
  • Skull Fracture
  • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
  • Spasticity
  • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spine Conditions
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Stenosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tethered Cord Syndrome
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
  • Torticollis
  • Traumatic Hematomas
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Acromegaly
  • Acute Subdural Hematomas
  • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Aqueductal Stenosis
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Astrocytoma
  • Ballism
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brain Aneurysm
  • Brain Attack (Stroke)
  • Brain AVM
  • Brain Conditions
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brainstem Glioma
  • Carotid Dissection
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Cavernous Angioma
  • Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
  • Chordomas
  • Chorea
  • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Coma
  • Concussion
  • Congenital Dermal Sinus
  • Cranial GunShot Wounds
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Cushing's Disease
  • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
  • Dandy Walker Syndrome
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Dermoid Tumor
  • Disc Herniation
  • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Dystonia
  • Ependymoma
  • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
  • Epidural Hematomas
  • Epilepsy
  • Essential Tremor
  • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
  • Ganglioglioma
  • Glioblastoma
  • Germinoma
  • Glioma
  • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
  • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
  • Hemangioblastomas
  • Hemi-Facial Spasm
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • JPA
  • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
  • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
  • Lymphoma
  • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Meningioma Brain Tumor
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Metastatic Brain Tumors
  • Moyamoya Disease
  • Myelomeningocele
  • Myelopathy
  • Nelson's Syndrome
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
  • Parkinsons Syndrome
  • Pediatric Conditions
  • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Pineal Tumor
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pineocytoma
  • Platybasia
  • Postherpetic Neuralgia
  • Post-Traumatic Seizures
  • Primary CNS Lymphoma
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri
  • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
  • Recurrent Adenomas
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schwannomas
  • Scoliosis
  • Seizure
  • Skull Fracture
  • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
  • Spasticity
  • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spine Conditions
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Stenosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tethered Cord Syndrome
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
  • Torticollis
  • Traumatic Hematomas
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  1. Home
  2. Conditions Treated
  3. Platybasia

Platybasia

Share this

About Platybasia

Platybasia is an abnormality of the base of the skull, literally flattening of the skull base. It may be developmental in origin or due to softening of the skull base bone, allowing it to be pushed upward (see Basilar Invagination). The developmental variant is the result of a wider (flatter) angle between the skull base of the frontal or anterior fossa and the clivus, which defines the anterior wall of the posterior fossa. It is sometimes associated with other congenital abnormalities of the bone structure, such as fusion of the first cervical vertebrae to the skull (atlas assimilation).

Symptoms: In the absence of neural compression, pain at the back of the skull and upper part of the neck is the most common symptom. Neural compression may affect the medulla and nerve roots from the lower brainstem, particularly those that might affect swallowing and the cough reflex.

Diagnosis: Skull x-rays, MRI and CT scans are all helpful in reducing misdiagnosis and MRI in assessing the severity of neural impingement.

Treatment: Unless there is impingement or compression of nerve roots or other neural tissue, no treatment is specifically indicated for platybasia; however, neural compression requires optimal treatment. In some patients, posterior decompression usually in conjunction with fusion of the skull to the upper cervical spine suffices. When the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra indents, the brainstem and reduction by traction is not successful, odontoid resection, followed by posterior fusion, may be necessary.

For more information about spine related conditions and treatments, visit the UCLA Spine Center at at spinecenter.ucla.edu.

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube LinkedIn
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap