One-stage anterior release and reduction with posterior fusion for treatment of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the approach and feasibility of one-stage anterior release and reduction with posterior fusion for irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation.


METHODS
Ten male and 6 female patients, with an average age of 36 years, including 13 patients with old trauma, 2 with rheumatoid disease, and 1 with os odontoideum were studied. Anterior release and reduction was performed in the supine position. The atlas and vertebra dentate were fixed posteriorly and fused by one stage.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up from 15 to 40 months (mean, 23 months), and all gained anatomic reduction and bone fusion. Six months postoperatively, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score of the 12 patients with cord symptoms had improved from 8.3 preoperatively to 13.9, with a mean improvement of 87.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation with one-stage anterior release and reduction with posterior fusion is a reliable method.
Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Red Cross Hospital, Xi'an, China. hebr888@163.com
Ding-jun
DJ
Hao
Bao-rong
BR
He
Qi-ning
QN
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult