Occipital cervical stabilization using occipital condyles for cranial fixation: technical case report.
OBJECTIVE
Presentation of a successful case of craniocervical stabilization involving a novel surgical technique using the occipital condyles as the sole cranial fixation points.


METHODS
A 22-year-old man presented in a delayed fashion with neck pain after a motor vehicle accident. Evaluation revealed a type 2 odontoid fracture with pseudarthrosis and displacement of the dens superiorly and cranial settling of the dens.


METHODS
The patient underwent posterior occipitocervical fixation with a polyaxial screw rod construct using the occipital condyle, C1 lateral mass, and C2 pars articularis for fixation. The patient had no immediate postoperative deficits. At the time of the 12-month follow-up examination, the patient was neurologically intact with a solid occipitocervical fusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Craniocervical stabilization using occipital condyle screws as the sole cephalad fixation points is a feasible option and can be used safely without neurovascular complication in the treatment of craniocervical instability.
Uribe
Juan S
JS
Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33606, USA. juansuribe@gmail.com
Ramos
Edwin
E
Baaj
Ali
A
Youssef
A Samy
AS
Vale
Fernando L
FL
D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult