title: Posterior occipitocervical fusion in rheumatoid arthritis and other instabilities.
abstract: Occipitocervical fixation remains a surgical challenge. A Y-plate in combination with transarticular screw fixation provides a simple and economically favorable solution to this problem. By integrating the transarticular screws into the Y-plate immediate postoperative reliable stabilization is achieved. Clinical results confirm the reliability and the low rate of pseudarthrosis with this surgical technique.
authors.affiliation: Spine Unit, Schulthess Klinik, Lengghalde 2, CH-8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grob
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*