title: Use of a titanium mesh cage for posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis. Technical note.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruiwa
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium