RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been widely applied in pelvic fracture and joint surgeries, but its feasibility in atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement needs to be studied further.OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and accuracy of 3D printing-assisted atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement in the treatment of type II C odontoid fracture.METHODS: Clinical data of 20 patients with type II C odontoid fracture admitted in the Ganzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University from June 2014 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were randomized into two groups, and then received 3D printing-assisted atlantoaxial pedicle screw placement (experimental group), or conventional atlantoaxial pedicle screw placemen (control group). The placement was observed through X-ray and CT scanning. All patients were followed up for 12 months, and the clinical efficacy was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and cervical Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The operation time, blood loss and radiation exposure time in the experimental group were significantly less than in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The accuracy of placement in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No spinal cord, vertebral artery or nerve injuries occurred in the two groups. (3) The postoperative clinical efficacy was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and cervical Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores in the two groups were significantly improved (P < 0.05). (4) These findings manifest that 3D printing-assisted trans-atlantoaxial pediele screw placement is a safe and effective method for type Ⅱ C odontoid fracture.