title: Clinical outcome of posterior C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation and fusion for atlantoaxial instability: A retrospective study of 86 patients.
abstract: We retrospectively studied the clinical results of posterior C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation and fusion for 86 patients diagnosed with atlantoaxial instability from January 2002 to January 2013. The study population included 48 men and 38 women, with an average age of 42.6 (range, 16-69years old). The causes of atlantoaxial instability could be divided into traumatic fracture (44 patients), congenital malformation (17 patients), rheumatoid arthritis (15 patients), and other causes (nine patients). The mean follow-up duration was 33.9months (range, 13-72months). The average operative time was 133.0min (range, 90-290min), and the mean blood loss during the operation was 185.7ml (range, 110-750ml). No patient experienced neurological function worsening related to the surgical procedure. In addition, 63% of the patients who presented with neurological symptoms reported improvement after surgery. Screw placement and reduction was achieved satisfactorily in all the patients and their neck pain was greatly relieved. Plain radiography and CT scans indicated solid fusion after 12months in all the patients. We suggest that C1-C2 pedicle screw internal fixation is a reliable method for treating atlantoaxial instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China.
authors.forename: Dingjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China.
authors.forename: Baorong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China.
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Centre, Youyi East Road 555#, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 710049, China. Electronic address: zhp502@163.com.
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065289:Pedicle Screws / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Atlantoaxial instability; C1 pedicle; C2 pedicle screw; Internal fixation