title: Image-guided surgery for cervical disorders in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Abstract This study demonstrated that frameless stereotaxy can be applied safely to cervical disorders caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixteen patients with cervical instability including atlantoaxial instability due to RA underwent instrumentation surgery under an image-guidance system from February 2000 through May 2001. Neural and vascular injuries were evaluated, and postoperative computed tomography (CT) was used to determine the accuracy of screw placement. There were no neurovascular complications, and screw placement was highly accurate. Image-guidance systems are useful tools for preoperative planning and application of transarticular and pedicular screw placement in the cervical spine of patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo , 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 , Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seichi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura