Use of a titanium mesh cage for posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morio Matsumoto ◽  
Kazuhiro Chiba ◽  
Takashi Tsuji ◽  
Hirofumi Maruiwa ◽  
Yoshiaki Toyama ◽  
...  

✓ The authors placed titanium mesh cages to achieve posterior atlantoaxial fixation in five patients with atlantoaxial instability caused by rheumatoid arthritis or os odontoideum. A mesh cage packed with autologous cancellous bone was placed between the C-1 posterior arch and the C-2 lamina and was tightly connected with titanium wires. Combined with the use of transarticular screws, this procedure provided very rigid fixation. Solid fusion was achieved in all patients without major complications. The advantages of this method include more stable fixation, better control of the atlantoaxial fixation angle, and reduced donor-site morbidity compared with a conventional atlantoaxial arthrodesis in which an autologous iliac crest graft is used.

1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Marcotte ◽  
Curtis A. Dickman ◽  
Volker K. H. Sonntag ◽  
Dean G. Karahalios ◽  
Janine Drabier

✓ Eighteen patients with atlantoaxial instability were treated with posterior atlantoaxial facet screws to obtain immediate rigid fixation of C1–2. Of these 18 patients, instability occurred due to trauma in nine, rheumatoid arthritis in six, neoplasms in two, and os odontoideum in one. Four patients presented with nonunion after failed C1–2 wire and graft procedures. In all cases in this series the screw fixations were augmented with an interspinous C1–2 strut graft which was wired in place to provide three-point stabilization and to facilitate bone fusion. In every case fixation was satisfactory, and C1–2 alignment and stability were restored without complications due to instrumentation. One patient died 3 months postoperatively from metastatic tumor; the spinal fixation was intact. All 17 surviving patients have developed osseous unions (mean follow-up period 12 months, range 6 to 16 months). Posterior atlantoaxial facet screw fixation provides immediate multidirectional rigid fixation of C1–2 that is mechanically superior to wiring or clamp fixation. This technique maximizes success without the need for a supplemental rigid external orthosis, and is particularly useful for pseudoarthrosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushil Patkar

BACKGROUND Displaced odontoid fractures that are irreducible with traction and have cervicomedullary compression by the displaced distal fracture fragment or deformity caused by facetal malalignment require early realignment and stabilization. Realignment with ultimate solid fracture fusion and atlantoaxial joint fusion, in some situations, are the aims of surgery. Fifteen such patients were treated with direct anterior extrapharyngeal open reduction and realignment of displaced fracture fragments with realignment of the atlantoaxial facets, followed by a variable screw placement (VSP) plate in compression mode across the fracture or anterior atlantoaxial fixation (transarticular screws or atlantoaxial plate screw construct) or both. OBSERVATIONS Anatomical realignment with rigid fixation was achieved in all patients. Fracture fusion without implant failure was observed in 100% of the patients at 6 months, with 1 unrelated mortality. Minimum follow-up has been 6 months in 14 patients and a maximum of 3 years in 4 patients, with 1 unrelated mortality. LESSONS Most irreducible unstable odontoid fractures can be anatomically realigned by anterior extrapharyngeal approach by facet joint manipulation. Plate (VSP) and screws permit rigid fixation in compression mode with 100% fusion. Any associated atlantoaxial instability can be treated from the same exposure.


2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas L. Brockmeyer ◽  
Julie E. York ◽  
Ronald I. Apfelbaum

Object. Craniovertebral instability is a challenging problem in pediatric spinal surgery. Recently, C1–2 transarticular screw fixation has been used to assist in craniovertebral joint stabilization in pediatric patients. Currently there are no available data that define the anatomical suitability of this technique in the pediatric population. The authors report their experience in treating 31 pediatric patients with craniovertebral instability by using C1–2 transarticular screws. Methods. From March 1992 to October 1998, 31 patients who were 16 years of age or younger with atlantooccipital or atlantoaxial instability, or both, were evaluated at our institution. There were 21 boys and 10 girls. Their ages ranged from 4 to 16 years (mean age 10.2 years). The most common causes of instability were os odontoideum (12 patients) and ligamentous laxity (eight patients). Six patients had undergone a total of nine previous attempts at posterior fusion while at outside institutions. All patients underwent extensive preoperative radiological evaluation including fine-slice (1-mm) computerized tomography scanning with multiplanar reconstruction to evaluate the anatomy of the C1–2 joint space. Preoperatively, of the 62 possible C1–2 joint spaces in 31 patients, 55 sides (89%) were considered suitable for transarticular screw placement. In three patients the anatomy was considered unsuitable for bilateral screw placement. In three patients the anatomy was considered inadequate on one side. Fifty-five C1–2 transarticular screws were subsequently placed, and there were no neurological or vascular complications. Conclusions. The authors conclude that C1–2 transarticular screw fixation is technically possible in a large proportion of pediatric patients with craniovertebral instability.


Medicine ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 96 (36) ◽  
pp. e8022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwan-Seo Yang ◽  
Ki-Wan Kim ◽  
Young-Min Oh ◽  
Jong-Pil Eun

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Guo-Xin ◽  
Wang Huan

OBJECT Atlantoaxial instability often requires surgery, and the current methods for fixation pose some risk to vascular and neurological tissues. Thus, new effective and safer methods are needed for salvage operations. This study sought to assess unilateral C-1 posterior arch screws (PASs) and C-2 laminar screws (LSs) combined with 1-side C1–2 pedicle screws (PSs) for posterior C1–2 fixation using biomechanical testing with bilateral C1–2 PSs in a cadaveric model. METHODS Six fresh ligamentous human cervical spines were evaluated for their biomechanics. The cadaveric specimens were tested in their intact condition, stabilization after injury, and after injury at 1.5 Nm of pure moment in 6 directions. The 3 groups tested were bilateral C1–2 PSs (Group A); left side C1–2 PSs with an ipsilateral C-1 PAS + C-2 laminar screw (Group B); and left side C1–2 PSs with a contralateral C-1 PAS + C-2 LS (Group C). During the testing, angular motion was measured using a motion capture platform. Data were recorded, and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS Biomechanical testing showed that there was no significant difference among the stabilities of these fixation systems in flexion-extension and rotation control. In left lateral bending, the bilateral C1–2 PS group decreased flexibility by 71.9% compared with the intact condition, the unilateral C1–2 PS and ipsilateral PAS+LS group decreased flexibility by 77.6%, and the unilateral C1–2 PS and contralateral PAS+LS group by 70.0%. Each method significantly decreased C1–2 movements in right lateral bending compared with the intact condition, and the bilateral C1–2 PS system was more stable than the C1–2 PS and contralateral PAS+LS system (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS A unilateral C-1 PAS + C-2 LS combined with 1-side C-1 PSs provided the same acute stability as the PS, and no statistically significant difference in acute stability was found between the 2 screw techniques. These methods may constitute an alternative method for posterior atlantoaxial fixation.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atul Goel ◽  
Trimurti Nadkarni ◽  
Abhidha Shah ◽  
Raghvendra Ramdasi ◽  
Neeraj Patni

Abstract BACKGROUND: On reviewing the database of patients with craniovertebral junction anomalies, the authors identified 70 patients with a bifid posterior arch of atlas. OBJECTIVE: To speculate on the pathogenesis of spondyloschisis of both the anterior and posterior arches of atlas, particularly as it relates to atlantoaxial instability. METHODS: Seventy patients with bifid anterior and posterior arches were identified by a retrospective review of the database from 2007 to 2013. RESULTS: The ages of the patients ranged from 14 months to 50 years. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (3 patients) had multiple additional spinal bony and neural abnormalities. Group 2 (34 patients) had mobile and partially (5) or completely (29) reducible atlantoaxial dislocation. Group 3 (33 patients) had atlantoaxial instability and related basilar invagination. The os odontoideum was identified in 21 patients, and C2-3 fusion was seen in 24 patients. Two of 3 patients in group 1 were treated conservatively and without any surgery. All patients in groups 2 and 3 were surgically treated. Surgery was done using lateral mass plate/rod and screw fixation techniques. The general observation during surgery included identification of discrete movements of both halves of the atlas, lateral positioning of the facets of atlas in relation to the facets of the axis and occipital condyle and closer approximation of the occipital bone, atlas, and axis resulting in “crumpling” of bone and neural elements. CONCLUSION: Understanding of the pathogenesis and mechanical alterations in cases with a bifid arch of atlas can assist in evaluating the clinical implications and in conduct of surgery.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila K. Singh ◽  
Lynda Rickards ◽  
Ronald I. Apfelbaum ◽  
R. John Hurlbert ◽  
Dennis Maiman ◽  
...  

Object. Stabilization of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) remains a significant challenge. In this multicenter study, the authors present the results of an evaluation of a precontoured titanium implant, the Ohio Medical Instruments (OMI) Loop, for craniocervical fixation. Methods. In this multicenter retrospective study the authors evaluated 30 patients (16 female, 14 male; mean age 53.8 years) with rheumatoid arthritis (15 cases), traumatic occipitoatlantoaxial instability (six cases), congenital vertebral anomalies (two cases), instability due to basilar invagination in the setting of Chiari malformation (two cases), or Down syndrome (one case), tumor (one case), os odontoideum (two cases), and pseudarthrosis/other (one case), who underwent OMI Loop—assisted occipitocervical reconstruction. The mean follow-up period was 25.4 months (range 6–60 months). A solid reconstruction was achieved in 29 of 30 cases; there was only one case of hardware failure requiring reoperation. Noncritical hardware failure occurred in two patients in whom partial occipital screw backout occurred but did not necessitate reoperation. There were no perioperative neurological complications. One patient (3.3%) experienced a delayed postoperative worsening of myelopathy at 1 year that resolved with further surgery. Postoperatively, in 66.6% of patients the degree of myelopathy remained stable (as measured by American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] scores), whereas 30% improved by one or more ASIA grade. The rate of osseous fusion was 96.6% at a mean follow-up period of 25.4 months. Conclusions. The authors found that the OMI Loop is a versatile precontoured occipitocervical fixation device that can be applied to a wide range of CCJ lesions. It provides excellent immediate rigid fixation of the CCJ, a high rate of osseous fusion, and a low rate of hardware failure.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyi-Feng Chen ◽  
Chieh-Tsai Wu ◽  
Sai-Cheung Lee ◽  
Shih-Tseng Lee

✓ The authors describe a modified posterior atlantoaxial fixation technique for the treatment of reducible atlantoaxial instability, which can be performed simply and easily, and can decrease the risk of vessel and/or neural damage. During an 18-month period, this technique was undertaken in 11 patients with atlantoaxial instability. There was no procedure-related morbidity. The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 18 months (mean 13.2 months). Fusion was documented in all 11 patients, and there was no progression of spinal deformity. This technique can be considered an effective alternative in the treatment of atlantoaxial subluxation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junichi Ohya ◽  
Hirotaka Chikuda ◽  
Shurei Sugita ◽  
Takashi Ono ◽  
Yasushi Oshima ◽  
...  

We report a case of ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane associated with an os odontoideum in a 46-year-old woman. She developed myelopathy following a minor motor vehicle accident. The patient underwent posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis and resection of the ossified lesion and recovered uneventfully. Long-standing atlantoaxial instability might have played a role in ectopic ossification of the posterior atlantoaxial membrane.


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