• Chao Wang, Ming Yan, Haitao Zhou, Shenglin Wang, and Gengting Dang.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. wangchaoo@ynet.com
• Spine. 2007 Mar 15;32(6):643-6.

Study DesignRetrospective clinical and radiologic evaluation of posterior C1-C2 fusion by transarticular screw (TAS) with morselized autograft and without additional internal fixation.ObjectiveDescription and assessment of a modified Magerl technique.Summary Of Background DataThe majority of spine surgeons prefer to supplement the posterior TAS with a posterior cable-secured strut graft and a postoperative rigid cervical orthosis. Our hypotheses are that the 2 posterior TASs alone are enough for stabilization and that morselized cancellous grafts have similar clinical result as the structural graft.MethodsFifty-seven consecutive patients, including atlantoaxial instability in 52 and atlantoaxial dislocation in 5, were treated by bilateral TAS fixation alone with morselized grafts by the same surgeon. The postoperative external immobilization was abandoned.ResultsA total of 114 transarticular screws were placed. Radiographs demonstrated all the screws were placed satisfactorily except two. One screw penetrated into the occipito-atlantal joint, and the other one slightly breached the vertebral artery groove but did not injure vertebral artery. None of these 2 screws was associated with clinical sequelae. There were 2 patients who had postoperative iatrogenic C2-C3 instability on dynamic radiograph, which did not need treatment. These cases had an average follow-up of 47 months (range, 24-76 months). All patients attained solid fusion without screw failure.ConclusionsBilateral transarticular screws alone and morselized grafts have high fusion rate in atlantoaxial arthrodesis without instrument failure. TAS fixation could provide stability that is clinically equivalent to the standard screws plus tension band construct as described by Magerl. With anatomic reduction and ideal screw position, additional internal fixation and postoperative collar are not necessary.

33 keywords...

hide…