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Rod and Screw Fixation for Cranio-Cervical Instability

Background Data: Atlanto-occipital dislocation is a rare and fatal condition. Pain, limitation of movements, and weakness, were the main complaints of patients with upper cervical lesions. Internal fixation and fusion was indicated in all patients of Atlanto occipital dislocation with deficits. CT scan is the imaging modality of choice for evaluation. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rod and screw fixation in cranio-cervical instability. Study Design: Retrospective study reviewed all patient treated by rod and screw fixation, they were 12 patient operated for atlanto-occipital instability from April 2013 to April 2016 in Alazher University Hospital Damietta. Pre and postoperative data collection and analysis of the outcome were completed based on the Frankel classification and grading. Patients and Methods: We operated 12 patients, 10 with traumatic and 2 with pathologically diagnosed Atlanto occipital instability. From April 2013 to April 2016. All patients presented with neck pain, limitation of neck movement, and neurological deficits. The patients were investigated by standard plain X ray to the cervical spine, CT scan and MRI of the cervical spine pre-operatively, and they operated thorough posterior Cranio-cervical fixation. These patients followed post-operatively clinically for improving neural functions and radiologically for alignment, stability, fusion and efficacy of hard ware fixation. Results: The mean age of the studied cases was 42.1 years, trauma was the cause of instability in 10 patients, and 2 patients one with rheumatoid arthritis and one with neoplastic lesion. The mean follows up period is 14.7 months. We used screw rod system in posterior craniocervical fixation with iliac bone graft without operative or post-operative complications. All our patients were improved neurologically post-operatively and no hardware failure during the follow up period. Conclusion: Craniocervical instability was rare condition, with miss diagnosis and may be fatal condition. Posterior occipitocervical fixation when indicated can be done by various techniques. The screw rod system was the most upgraded used technique with immediate rigid fixation. Surgery in this area was possible with confident results.