title: Problems associated with the treatment of instability of the spine and the occipito-vertebral junction in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: This article discusses the clinical problems caused by the changes in the cervical spine accompanying rheumatoid arthritis.<br /> The most commonly encountered pathology of the spine in the course of rheumatoid arthritis is C1-C2 instability, which can only be treated surgically. The development of new surgical techniques and operation methods has made it possible to obtain good outcomes. The clinical material described here includes 16 patients operated using new methods. The observation of these patients allows for the following conclusions:<br /> - Fixation should involve only the C1-C3 segment, and is best accomplished by frame stabilization;<br /> - The fixation method of choice is to achieve stability by using implants;<br /> - The disease process of rheumatoid arthritis is progressive, which is changes in the cervical spine may serve as indicators of the further progress of changes, both at the point of surgery and in other parts of the cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Centrum Rehabilitacji im. Prof. Maraiana Weissa, Konstancin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krasuski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poniatowska