[Lateral mass screws of the atlas combined with vertebra dentata pedicle screws for treatment of upper cervical vertebral instability].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of fixation and fusion with lateral mass screws of the atlas and vertebra dentata pedicle screws for the treatment of upper vertebral instability.


METHODS
Ten patients with atlantoaxial instability, including 3 with old odontoid fracture and 7 with fresh odontoid fracture (Aderson II) received surgeries for fixation and fusion with lateral mass screws of the atlas and vertebra dentata pedicle screws.


RESULTS
No spinal cord or vertebral artery injuries occurred in these patients after the surgery. The follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 15 months with an average of 8 months. The postoperative JOA scores were from l3.2 to l6.8, with an average of l4.8. Clinical improvement was achieved in 87.5% of the patients, and the implanted bones all fused successfully without internal fixation rupture or mobilization.


CONCLUSIONS
Lateral mass screws of the atlas combined with vertebra dentata pedicle screws allows three-dimensional fixation for treatment of atlantoaxial instability.
Department of Spine Surgery, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou 635000, China. scspine@163.com
Dong
D
Zhang
Qin
Q
He
Yan-xing
YX
Huang
D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001863:Bone Screws; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods