Spine
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Retrospective case series study of surgical outcome for 21 atlantoaxial subluxation patients treated with a new technique, called cable-dragged reduction/cantilever beam internal fixation. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. ⋯ Cable-dragged reduction/cantilever beam internal fixation is almost as effective for reduction as anterior release but is less invasive and risky. It has similar operative time and blood loss to occipitocervical fusion but avoids arthrodesis of occipitoatlantal joint. It is also suitable for patients with severe myelopathy before surgery. Its major disadvantage is that C3, which is left free in the traditional atlantoaxial fusion surgery, has to be involved in fusion. And it is suitable only for patients with intact posterior arches in C1.