title: Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Analysis of Transoral Atlantoaxial Reduction Plate System for Basilar Invagination: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of a transoral atlantoaxial reduction plate (TARP) system is an effective surgical approach for the treatment of basilar invagination. With the aim of improving the therapeutic efficacy of the TARP operation, we conducted a voxel-based morphometric study to quantitatively investigate the descent of the odontoid process and craniocervical volume changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 20 patients with basilar invagination who underwent a TARP procedure. Craniocervical computed tomography (CT) scanning and a 3-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of the craniocervical junction were performed. Craniocervical volumes and odontoid process descent distances were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Individual neurological function was evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system for cervical disorders. Pearson correlation analysis was applied for statistical testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical efficacy (the JOA-score improvement rate) was significantly associated with the craniocervical volume improvement rate, the odontoid descent distance, and the absolute craniocervical volume changes (p < 0.01 for all), with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.83, 0.80, and 0.61, respectively. No significant correlation was noted between surgical efficacy and age, symptom duration, preoperative neurological function, odontoid process displacement, or change in clivus-odontoid angle (p > 0.05). The craniocervical volume improvement rate was significantly associated with the odontoid descent distance (r = 0.8; p < 0.01), but it was not associated with the odontoid displacement or the change in the clivus-odontoid angle (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the odontoid descent distance predicted the craniocervical volume improvement rate following TARP procedures in patients with basilar invagination, and we believe that both can serve as predictors of surgical efficacy. We believe that planning the odontoid descent distance preoperatively may help to improve the efficacy of TARP operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.|No. 303 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Nanning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gejin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chenglong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.|Institute of Traumatic Orthopaedics of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China hong_xia126@126.com.|Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.|Institute of Traumatic Orthopaedics of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.|Institute of Traumatic Orthopaedics of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qingshui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.|Institute of Traumatic Orthopaedics of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zenghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult