Occasionally, the atlantooccipital membrane may be partially ossified, resulting in an apparent bone fragment posterior to the superior articular process. This should not be confused with a fracture of the atlas or occipital condyle (Figs. 8A and 8B).
Belinda Childs, MN, ARNP, BC-ADM, CDE, responds. Skin abscesses, also known as boils, are more common in people with uncontrolled diabetes. They are usually caused by bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus, but the abscesses can also be caused by other bacteria.
Three skin conditions are likely to cause brown spots on the legs of a diabetic. In the condition called diabetic dermopathy, diabetes affects tiny blood vessels that supply a personâs skin with blood. Dermopathy most often appears as light brown, scaly patches on the front of a personâs legs, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These can be oval or circular and look similar to age spots. Acanthosis nigricans is another condition. It results in tan or brown raised areas.