• K Huch, B Cakir, K Dreinhöfer, W Puhl, and M Richter.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury (RKU), University of Ulm, Germany. klaus.huch@medizin.uni-ulm.de
• Eur Spine J. 2004 May 1; 13 (3): 222228222-8.

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to improve the management of cervical tumor osteolysis. A new modular rod-screw implant system for the posterior instrumentation of the occipito-cervical, cervical and cervico-thoracic spine (neon occipito cervical system, Ulrich, Germany) is available since 2000. K-wire guided pedicle screws are used, CT-guided instrumentation is possible. Previous studies have demonstrated increased biomechanical stability compared to established posterior cervical systems.MethodsThe cervical and cervico-thoracic spine of 8 patients (6 males, 2 females, mean age 62 years, range 48-77 years) with osteolysis due to plasmocytoma (n=2), bronchial (n=2), mammary (n=2), esophageal (n=1) and pancreatic (n=1) carcinoma were instrumentated since June 2001.ResultsA stable fixation without loosening or failure of the fixation system was achieved in all cases. No impairment of the neurogical status was observed.ConclusionPosterior instrumentation of the cervical spine including the occipito-cervical and the cervico-thoracic region with a new modular angle-stable rod-screw implant system offers good stabilization and allows simultaneous decompression. Since tumor masses are predominantly located in the anterior portion of the spine blood loss can be reduced.

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