Revue de chirurgie orthopédique et réparatrice de l'appareil moteur
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Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot · Jan 1996
[Surgery of the upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. Indications and results apropos of 28 cases].
The goal of this study was to precise indications and surgical techniques for stabilisation with or without decompression of the upper cervical spine instability in rheumatoid arthritis. ⋯ Occipito-cervical arthrodesis is necessary as soon as the patient presents neurological signs. When there is an anterior dislocation associated with vertical dislocation, if there is posterior dislocation in case of osteoporosis of the posterior C1-C2 arc, or destabilisation of the lower cervical spine. C1-C2 arthrodesis is suggested when there is no important neurological signs, when displacement is limited to a pure anterior dislocation and in young patient with good bone quality.