Evaluation of Different Techniques in the Management of Craniocervical Instability

Objectives: Evaluation of clinical picture and results of occipitocervical and atlanto-axial fusion with craniocervical instabilities

Patients and Method: The investigation included 22 patients, 14 males (63.6%) and 8 females (36.4%). Ages ranged (10 to 70) years. Instability resulted fromfracture of the odontoid process in 8 cases(36.4%), transverse atlantal ligament injury with C1 C2 sub laxation in 6 cases(27.3%), osodontodium in 4 cases(18.2%), Morquio’s syndrome in 2 cases(9%) , C2 Hangman’s fracture type III one case(4.5%), and transverse atlantal ligament injury associated with sub axial sublaxation in one case(4.5%). Trauma was the most common cause of instability (73%).Single hollow titanium anterior odontoid screw was done in 4 cases (18,2%), posterior atlanto-axial fixation in 12 patients(54.5%) three of them (25%) needed trans oral odontoidectomy prior to fixation, fixation was performed from C1to C4 in one patient(4.5%) , and occipitocervical fixation in 5 patients(22.7%). Postoperative Philadelphia neck collar was applied for 8-12 weeks.

Results: Postoperative clinical evaluation revealed good outcome of neurological ASIA grading. 10 patients improved (45.5%), while 11 patients (50%) remained at the same ASIA score as pre-operative, and only one patient (4.5%) deteriorated from ASIA score D to A. Pain and neck disability scores reduced postoperatively compared to preoperative. Fusion was achieved in 18 cases (81.8%) at last follow-up. Instrumentation failure occurred in only 2 cases (9%). Three mortality cases due to respiratory problems (2cases died in the first week after surgery and the third case died one month after the surgery).