Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Presentation of a successful case of craniocervical stabilization involving a novel surgical technique using the occipital condyles as the sole cranial fixation points. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old man presented in a delayed fashion with neck pain after a motor vehicle accident. Evaluation revealed a type 2 odontoid fracture with pseudarthrosis and displacement of the dens superiorly and cranial settling of the dens. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent posterior occipitocervical fixation with a polyaxial screw rod construct using the occipital condyle, C1 lateral mass, and C2 pars articularis for fixation. The patient had no immediate postoperative deficits. At the time of the 12-month follow-up examination, the patient was neurologically intact with a solid occipitocervical fusion. CONCLUSION: Craniocervical stabilization using occipital condyle screws as the sole cephalad fixation points is a feasible option and can be used safely without neurovascular complication in the treatment of craniocervical instability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | E1216-E1217 |
| Journal | Neurosurgery |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Condyle screw
- Craniocervical fusion
- Craniocervical instability
- Craniocervical junction
- Craniovertebral junction
- Occipital condyle
- Occipital condyle cervical fusion
- Occipitocervical fusion
- Occipitocervical junction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Clinical Neurology