title: Anterior retropharyngeal fixation C1-2 for stabilization of atlantoaxial instabilities: study of feasibility, technical description and preliminary results.
abstract: Posterior transarticular screw fixation C1-2 with the Magerl technique is a challenging procedure for stabilization of atlantoaxial instabilities. Although its high primary stability favoured it to sublaminar wire-based techniques, the close merging of the vertebral artery (VA) and its violation during screw passage inside the axis emphasizes its potential risk. Also, posterior approach to the upper cervical spine produces extensive, as well as traumatic soft-tissue stripping. In comparison, anterior transarticular screw fixation C1-2 is an atraumatic technique, but has been neglected in the literature, even though promising results are published and lectured to date. In 2004, anterior screw fixation C1-2 was introduced in our department for the treatment of atlantoaxial instabilities. As it showed convincing results, its general anatomic feasibility was worked up. The distance between mid-sagittal line of C2 and medial border of the VA groove resembles the most important anatomic landmark in anterior transarticular screw fixation C1-2. Therefore, CT based measurements on 42 healthy specimens without pathology of the cervical spine were performed. Our data are compiled in an extended collection of anatomic landmarks relevant for anterior transarticular screw fixation C1-2. Based on anatomic findings, the technique and its feasibility in daily clinical work is depicted and discussed on our preliminary results in seven patients.
authors.affiliation: Department for Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Katharinenhospital, Kriegsbergstrasse 36, Postfach 10 26 44, 70022, Stuttgart, Germany. heiko.koller@t-online.de
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kammermeier
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ulbricht
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assuncao
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karolus
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000592:standards; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000592:standards*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D012016:Reference Values; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery