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Risk Factors for Development of Subaxial Subluxations Following Atlantoaxial Arthrodesis for Atlantoaxial Subluxations in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2010; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 35; Issue: 16 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/brs.0b013e3181af0d85

1528-1159

Ken Ishii, Morio Matsumoto, Yuichiro Takahashi, Eijiro Okada, Kota Watanabe, Takashi Tsuji, Hironari Takaishi, Masaya Nakamura, Yoshiaki Toyama, Kazuhiro Chiba,

Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy

In Brief Study Design. Retrospective radiographic/imaging study. Objective. To evaluate preoperative and sequential postoperative radiographs following C1–C2 arthrodesis for atlantoaxial subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to determine risk factors for the development of subaxial subluxations (SAS). Summary of Background Data. The development of SAS has often been observed after C1–C2 arthrodesis. However, there have been no previous reports on the correlation between radiographic parameters and the incidence of postoperative SAS. Methods. The study group comprised of 58 patients with RA who underwent C1–C2 arthrodesis due to atlantoaxial subluxation. There were 5 men and 53 women with a mean age of 55.8 years. The mean follow-up period was 137 months. Nineteen patients with a postoperative SAS after C1–C2 arthrodesis were classified as the SAS+ group. Other 39 patients without a postoperative SAS were included in the SAS− group. Clinical outcomes and plain radiographs were reviewed retrospectively and compared between the 2 groups. Results. The difference between pre- and postoperative atlantoaxial (AA) angles in the SAS+ group was significantly greater than those in the SAS− group (P = 0.039). The C2–C7 angles changed significantly between pre- and postoperative periods in the SAS+ group (P = 0.039), but not in the SAS− group (P = 0.897). It was suggested that a large AA angle and a small C2–C7 angle observed at the early postoperative period were the risk factors for the development of SAS. We also demonstrated that a high incidence of the C3–C4 SAS resulted from excessive bone fusion at the C2–C3. Conclusion. Excessive correction of AA angle is likely to cause loss of cervical lordosis, resulting in the development of postoperative SAS. In addition, extensive bony union at C2–C3 following C1–C2 arthrodesis frequently leads to the development of extensive SAS at the C3–C4. Excessive correction of C1–C2 angle for atlantoaxial subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is likely to cause loss of cervical lordosis, resulting in development of subaxial subluxations. We also demonstrated that a high incidence of C3–C4 subaxial subluxations was a consequence of excessive bone fusion involving C2–C3 following C1–C2 arthrodesis.