title: [Transoral microsurgical treatment of craniocervical malformation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss transoral microcervical treatment of 16 patients with craniocervical malformation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perioperative treatment including antibiotics, tracheotomy, intravenous nutrition was used in 16 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients had basilar impressions, 3 chronic atlantoaxial dislocation and 2 odontoid fracture, 2 lower clivus chordoma, and 1 granuloma in the ventral part of the medulla oblongata. Three patients received bone graft. Follow-up for 6 - 36 months showed that 14 patients resumed normal life but 1 died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-craniocervical malformation can be treated by transoral approach microsurgically. Understanding microanatomy of this approach can reduce postoperative morbidity and complications. Perioperative treatment can prevent incision infection. Prevention of intraoperative CSF leakage must be emphasized.Bone graft can make craniocervical spine stable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures