title: Modern treatment of the symptomatic os odontoideum.
abstract: A new surgical procedure for treatment of congenital, symptomatic atlanto-axial instability (os odontoideum ) is described. Two metallic clamps, with an integrated inner spring for maintaining continuous pressure on a cortico-cancellous bone-graft implanted into the interlaminar space, are fixed posteriorly on the vertebral arches C1/2 next to the graft. Because of the initial solid segment-stability external fixation is unnecessary. Posterior interlaminar osteosynthesis prevents late neurological complications caused by a mobile os odontoideum .
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011859:Radiography