ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the reasons for the operation performed on 13 patients with upper cervical disease and to explore the management and prevention of upper cervical disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirteen patients with upper cervical disease were retrospectively reviewed. The reason for of reoperations on these patients were analyzed. The measures to reduce upper cervical operational complication and bad prognosis were discussed to avoid reoperations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The reasons for reoperations included 9 cases with unstable or re-dislocated atlantoaxial joint, 10 cases with residual spinal cord compression, 1 case with malposition of odontoid screw, 1 case with adjacent cervical spine regression, 1 case with occipital-cervical fusion failure, 1 case with spinal cord injury during operation, 1 case with bone-plant slipped into canales spinalis, and 1 case with demand to take out internal fixation for aggravated symptom.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The common reasons for upper cervical reoperations were due to instability or redislocation of atlantoaxial joint and residual of spinal cord compression. Some measures such as reducing operate miss, using firm internal fixation and decompressing were advisable to decrease the incidence of reoperations.</p>