title: Treatment of upper cervical spine instability with posterior fusion plus atlantoaxial pedicle screw.
abstract: Clinical results of posterior fusion plus pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of upper cervical spine instability were taken under consideration. 24 patients with atlantoaxial instability were treated with C1-2 pedicle screws and rods fixation under general anesthesia. There were 18 males and 6 females with mean age of 49.8 years (age range 17-69 years). The postoperative radiographs verified good position of all screws, with satisfactory atlantoaxial reduction. Follow-up for 3-45 months (average 23 months) showed no spinal cord and vertebral artery injury or interfixation failure. Atlantoaxial alignment and stability were restored without complication due to instrumentation. In conclusion, posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw and rod fixation provide immediate three-dimensional rigid fixation of atlantoaxial joint and are more effective techniques compared with previously reported techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jibin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Weixiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Dehui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhaohong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jiwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065289:Pedicle Screws; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult