Effect of occipitocervical fusion for treatment of craniovertebral junction deformity combined with atlantoaxial instability / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of occipitocervical fusion in patients with craniovertebral junction deformity combined with atlantoaxial instability. Methods The clinical data of 59 patients with craniovertebral junction deformity combined with atlantoaxial instability from March 2013 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated with occipitocervical fusion. The atlantoaxial distance (ADI), distance between the odontoid and Chamberlain line and cervicomedullary angle (CMA) were used to evaluate atlantoaxial dislocation, vertical displacement and spinal cord compression, and the Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the effect before operation and 7 days after operation. Results The operation time was 109 to 214 (148.5 ± 20.1) min, the transoperative bleeding was 55 to 210 (122.0 ± 16.7) ml, and no injury of spinal cord nerve and vertebral artery occurred during operation. The CMA and JOA score 7 d after operation were significantly higher than that before operation (153.8 ± 5.4)° vs. (131.2 ± 7.1) ° and (12.7 ± 1.8) scores vs. (10.6 ± 1.4) scores, and the ADI and distance between the odontoid and Chamberlain line 7 d after operation were significantly lower than that before operation (2.9 ± 0.7) mm vs. (8.3 ± 2.7) mm and (3.2 ± 1.4) mm vs. (8.2 ± 2.3) mm, and there were statistical difference (P＜0.05). One case (1.7%, 1/59) died of massive brainstem infarction 1 d after operation; 2 patients (3.4%, 2/59) had undergone a revision operation due to fusion failure 3 months after operation; other 56 patients in reduction, internal fixation and bone graft fusion. The patients were followed up for 6 to 38 (15.9 ± 7.2) months, and the symptom relief was in 56 cases. The rate of symptom relief was 94.9% (56/59). The JOA score at last follow-up was significantly higher than that before operation (13.3 ± 1.8) scores vs. (10.6 ± 1.4) scores, and there was statistical difference (P＜0.05). Conclusions The occipitocervical fusion can effectively relieve spinal cord compression and atlantoaxial instability in patients with craniovertebral junction deformity combined with atlantoaxial instability.