CT analysis of the axis for transarticular screw fixation of rheumatoid atlantoaxial instability.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the morphological characteristics of the axis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with atlantoaxial instability and to determine, by means of sagittal reconstructed computed tomography (CT), the suitability for atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients, who had undergone reconstructed cervical spine CT scanning preoperatively and posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis for atlantoaxial instability, were identified from a database for inclusion in this study. The isthmus height and internal height of the lateral mass of the axis were measured using digital imaging software.


RESULTS
The mean isthmus height and internal height of the lateral mass of the axis in RA patients (n=14) were significantly lower than in non-RA patients (n=13) (P<0.01). A high-riding vertebral artery (VA) was present in 54% (15 joints, 9 patients) of the 28 atlantoaxial joints in the RA group and in 12% (3 joints, 2 patients) of the 26 atlantoaxial joints in the non-RA group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In RA patients, the axis showed more extensive thinning of the isthmus and lateral mass than in non-RA patients. A precise preoperative evaluation of screw trajectory using reconstruction CT imaging may be useful in atlantoaxial transarticular fixation, particularly for RA patients with atlantoaxial instability.
Chung
Sung Soo
SS
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea.
Lee
Chong Suh
CS
Chung
Hye Won
HW
Kang
Chang Seok
CS
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001863:Bone Screws; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed