title: [Treatment of atlanto-axial vertebral instability fractures with cervical posterior pedicle screw internal fixation and interbody fusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical effects of cervical posterior pedicle screw internal fixation and interbody fusion for the treatment of atlanto-axial vertebral instability fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2008 to July 2013, 21 patients with atlanto-axial vertebral instability fractures were treated with vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation and interbody fusion through posterior approach. There were 14 males and 7 females, aged from 20 to 55 years old with an average of 32 years. Lifted and guided the atlanto-axial vertebral pedicle screw to reduce atlanto-axial vertebral displacement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of 12.5 months. Wounds got healed without complication of infection. Clinical symptoms were relieved at 6 months after operation. According to ASIA score standard to assess at 6 months after operation, the items of motion, light touch and needle score had obviously improved, and respectively were 99.45 ±0.27, 111.09 ± 0.47,111.11 ± 0.58. VAS and NDI scores also had obviously improved, and respectively were 1.04 ± 0.38 and 12.56 ± 2.24. Imaging examinations showed internal fixation locations were good, without atlanto-axial joint instability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical posterior pedicle screw internal fixation and interbody fusion can effectively restore the stability of atlanto-axial joint, reduce complication and obtain satisfactory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, People's Hospital of Linfen City, Shanxi, China. Focus_2@163.com
authors.forename: Zhi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ya-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065289:Pedicle Screws; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult