Atlanto-axial pedicle screw internal fixation to reconstruct upper cervical spine instability / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical effect of the atlanto-axial pedicle screw internal fixation to reconstruct upper cervical spine instability. Methods Using atlanto-axial pedicle screw and internal fixation system combined with autogenous iliac bone graft to treat 21 patients with upper cervical spine instability. Type Ⅱ odontoid process old fracture was 13 patients, odontoid process nonunion was 5 patients, injury of the transverse ligament was 3 patients. They were placed in 84 atlanto-axial pedicle screws, autogenous bones were placed in the posterior arch of atlas and axis to fusion, so that atlanto-axial complex got stabilized. Results The left lateral cortical bone of atlas vertebral pedicle was broken by screws in 2 patients, but the spinal cord and vertebral artery was intact. X-ray film showed the atlas and the fracture of dens of axis was completely replaced in all patients. The position of screw and vertebral artery or spinal cord was good in CT image. According to JOA score standard, 15 cases of all were excellent, 3 cases were good,2 cases were common,1 case was bad, and the rate of excellent and good was 85.71%(18/21).Seventeen cases were followed up for 12-26 (12.83 ± 4.23) months, all patients had acquired bone fusion and found no screw and plate fracture. Conclusions Atlanto-axial pedicle screw combined with screw-plate system fixation to treat upper cervical spine instability, can significantly enhance the biomechanical stability of the atlanto-axial interbody, bone grafting fusion rate is higher, the application value of the atlanto-axialfusion is higher.