Atlantoaxial stabilization with the use of C1–3 lateral mass screw fixation

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Horn ◽  
Jonathan S. Hott ◽  
Randall W. Porter ◽  
Nicholas Theodore ◽  
Stephen M. Papadopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Intraoperative Complications ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Lateral Mass ◽  
Lateral Mass Screw ◽  
Transarticular Screw ◽  
Transarticular Screw Fixation ◽  
Cervical Orthosis ◽  
Atlantoaxial Stabilization

✓ Atlantoaxial stabilization has evolved from simple posterior wiring to transarticular screw fixation. In some patients, however, the course of the vertebral artery (VA) through the axis varies, and therefore transarticular screw placement is not always feasible. For these patients, the authors have developed a novel method of atlantoaxial stabilization that does not require axial screws. In this paper, they describe the use of this technique in the first 10 cases. Ten consecutive patients underwent the combined C1–3 lateral mass–sublaminar axis cable fixation technique. The mean age of the patients was 62.6 years (range 23–84 years). There were six men and four women. Eight patients were treated after traumatic atlantoaxial instability developed (four had remote trauma and previous nonunion), whereas in the other two atlantoaxial instability was caused by arthritic degeneration. All had VA anatomy unsuitable to traditional transarticular screw fixation. There were no intraoperative complications in any of the patients. Postoperative computed tomography studies demonstrated excellent screw positioning in each patient. Nine patients were treated postoperatively with the aid of a rigid cervical orthosis. The remaining patient was treated using a halo fixation device. One patient died of respiratory failure 2 months after surgery. Follow-up data (mean follow-up duration 13.1 months) were available for seven of the remaining nine patients and demonstrated a stable construct with fusion in each patient. The authors present an effective alternative method in which C1–3 lateral mass screw fixation is used to treat patients with unfavorable anatomy for atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation. In this series of 10 patients, the method was a safe and effective way to provide stabilization in these anatomically difficult patients.

Posterior atlantoaxial facet screw fixation in rheumatoid arthritis

1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Aly Eleraky ◽  
Roberto Masferrer ◽  
Volker K. H. Sonntag
Keyword(s):  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Rigid Fixation ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Transarticular Screw ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transarticular Screw Fixation ◽  
Fine Print

Object. This retrospective review was conducted to determine the efficacy of transarticular screw fixation in a group of patients who were treated for rheumatoid atlantoaxial instability. Methods. Thirty-six patients (mean age 63 years) with rheumatoid atlantoaxial instability were treated with posterior atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation supplemented with an interspinous C1–2 strut graft—cable construct to provide immediate three-point fixation to facilitate bone fusion. Previous attempts at fusions by using bone grafting with wire fixation at other institutions had failed in six of these patients. Six patients underwent transoral odontoid resections for removal of large irreducible pannus as a first-stage procedure, which was followed within 2 to 3 days by the posterior procedure. Postoperatively, 33 patients were placed in hard cervical collars and three required halo vests because of severe osteoporosis. Of eight patients categorized as Ranawat Class II preoperatively, all eight returned to normal after surgery; of eight patients in Ranawat Class III-A preoperatively, four improved to Class II and four remained unchanged. All 20 patients classified as Ranawat Class I preoperatively recovered completely. Pain decreased or resolved in all patients, and there were no complications related to instrumentation. At follow-up review (mean 2 years), 33 patients (92%) had solid bone fusions, and three (8%) had stable fibrous unions. Conclusions. Posterior atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation provides a good surgical alternative for the management of patients with rheumatoid atlantoaxial instability. This technique provides immediate three-point rigid fixation of the C1–2 region, thus obviating the need for halo vest immobilization in most cases.

C1–C2 Transarticular Screw Fixation for Atlantoaxial Instability: A 6-year Experience

Neurosurgery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regis W. Haid ◽  
Brian R. Subach ◽  
Mark R. McLaughlin ◽  
Gerald E. Rodts ◽  
John B. Wahlig
Keyword(s):  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Preoperative Assessment ◽  
Fusion Rate ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Transarticular Screw ◽  
Transarticular Screw Fixation ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Cervical Incision ◽  
Cervical Orthosis ◽  
Hardware Failures

Abstract OBJECTIVE We review a 6-year, single-center experience using the technique of C1–C2 transarticular screw fixation for atlantoaxial instability in 75 consecutive operations. METHODS The study group was composed of 43 men and 32 women, with a mean age of 44 years (range, 8–76 yr). Each patient had documented atlantoaxial instability. In 28 patients (37%), atlantoaxial instability was a result of trauma; in 22 patients, (29%), it was a result of rheumatoid arthritis; in 16 patients (21%), it was a result of prior surgery; and in 9 patients (12%), it was a result of congenital abnormalities. All patients underwent stabilization with C1–C2 transfacetal screws and a posterior interspinous construct. Nine patients had unilateral screws placed. Postoperatively, the patients were maintained in a rigid cervical orthosis for a mean of 11 weeks (range, 8–15 wk); five patients were immobilized with halo fixation for a mean of 13 weeks (range, 10–16 wk). The mean follow-up period was 2.4 years (range, 1–5.5 yr). RESULTS Osseous fusion was documented in 72 patients (96%). There were no hardware failures; however, three patients developed pseudarthrosis. Two superficial wound infections (one at the graft site and one at the cervical incision site) required antibiotic therapy. Four patients had transient suboccipital hypesthesia. No instances of an errant screw, dural laceration, or injury to the vertebral artery, spinal cord, or hypoglossal nerve were noted. CONCLUSION C1–C2 transarticular screw fixation supplemented with an interspinous construct yielded a 96% fusion rate, with a low incidence of complications. We attribute our successful outcomes to careful preoperative assessment and meticulous surgical technique.

Surgical Results of Intraoperative C-arm Fluoroscopy Versus O-arm in Transarticular Screw Fixation for Atlantoaxial Instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. e686-e690
Author(s):  
Keiji Wada ◽  
Tomohisa Inoue ◽  
Kenji Hagiwara ◽  
Ryo Tamaki ◽  
Ken Okazaki
Keyword(s):  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Surgical Results ◽  
Transarticular Screw ◽  
Transarticular Screw Fixation

Anatomical suitability of C1–2 transarticular screw placement in pediatric patients

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas L. Brockmeyer ◽  
Julie E. York ◽  
Ronald I. Apfelbaum
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Screw Placement ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Os Odontoideum ◽  
Transarticular Screw ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transarticular Screw Fixation ◽  
Fine Print

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.

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