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OCCIPITAL CERVICAL STABILIZATION USING OCCIPITAL CONDYLES FOR CRANIAL FIXATION

2009; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 65; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1227/01.neu.0000349207.98394.fa

1524-4040

Juan S. Uribe, Edwin Ramos, Ali A. Baaj, A. Samy Youssef, Fernando Ĺ. Vale,

Pelvic and Acetabular Injuries

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.