[Design and preliminary clinical application of transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate].
OBJECTIVE
To design transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate (TARP), evaluate its biomechanical performance and observe its preliminary clinical effect.


METHODS
A brand-new TARP system was designed, including butterfly titanium alloy plate, self-locking screws, atlantoaxial reductor and other operation instruments. Twelve fresh occipital bone-C(3) specimen were designed for biomechanical test including range of motion (ROM) (n = 6) and screw pull-out strength (n = 12). Preliminary clinical application of TARP was reported.


RESULTS
The reduction mechanism of the TARP system was designed cleverly. TARP had equal effect with Magerl + Brooks and it was more stable than the other three clinically widely used atlantoaxial fixators: Magerl, Brooks and anterior transarticular screw fixation through C(2) vertebral body. TARP's C(1) and C(2) screws were strong enough for atlantoaxial arthrodesis and their antipull-out performance was excellent. Clinical application on irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation proved that TARP had the function of instant reduction, the operation was feasible and the operation effect was significant.


CONCLUSIONS
TARP's design is novel and it has excellent biomechanical performance. The operation procedure is simple and reasonable. Furthermore, instant reduction could be completed during the operation and the fixation is strong. Above all, TARP is creative and will have excellent prospect.
Yin
Qing-shui
QS
Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital, People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, 510010, China.
Ai
Fu-zhi
FZ
Zhang
Kai
K
Xia
Hong
H
Wu
Zeng-hui
ZH
Chang
Yun-bing
YB
Mai
Xiao-hong
XH
Liu
Jing-fa
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome