title: The evolution of posterior cervical and occipitocervical fusion and instrumentation.
abstract: The past several decades have been the setting for a remarkable evolution of spinal instrumentation technology. The advancements that have been made have allowed previously complex disorders of the cervical spine, the atlantoaxial articulation, and the occipitocervical junction to be managed more effectively with direct methods of internal fixation and arthrodesis. This has resulted in improvements in patient outcomes and fusion success rates. The improved strength of instrumentation constructs allows minimal, if any, external bracing, obviating the need for a halo orthosis in many cases. In this paper the authors review key events that have occurred in neuroimaging, biomechanical testing, and the development of fusion and instrumentation constructs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Medical Illustration Graduate Program, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA. jvender@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vender
authors.forename: Andy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rekito
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Dennis E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McDonnell
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001843:Bone Cements; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000266:history; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000266:history; D001915:Braces; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000266:history; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000266:history; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements