[Treatment of complex crainocervical junction malformation by transoccipito-cervical posterolateral approach].
OBJECTIVE
To report the treatment of six patients suffering from complex craniocervical junction (CCJ) malformation by transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach which is a new surgical method.


METHODS
Transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach was confirmed feasible by anatomy of the body. Diagnosis was made sure CT-three dimensional image and MRI for every patient. All cases reaived odontoidectomy and suboccipital decompression and/or bone graft.


RESULTS
All patients showed favorable outcome without deterioration or recurrence. Six patients were followed up for 15 - 10 months. All patients showed marked progressive improvement of neurological disturbances and three of them resumed work half a year after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach is a new surgical procedure by which anterior and posterior decompression of foramen magnun aria and bone graft (posterior craniocervical stabilization) could be fulfilled during one operation.
Huang
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041.
Song
Y
Y
Yi
Z
Z
Li
G
G
Mao
B
B
You
C
C
Gao
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000601:surgery*