title: Occipitocervical fusion by Luque loop rod instrumentation in Down syndrome.
abstract: Four children with Down syndrome who had developed atlantoaxial dislocation and myelopathy underwent occipitocervical fusion with Luque loop rod instrumentation and decompressive laminectomy of C1. The postoperative results are presented and the indications discussed. This procedure provides many advantages in the surgical treatment of Down syndrome compared with the conventional procedures, because of the associated mental retardation that makes the postoperative management very complicated.
authors.affiliation: Kagoshima Prefectural Crippled Children's Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taketomi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojyo
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome