Posterior occipitocervical fixation using plate-rod-polyaxial screw system / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To report the initial outcomes of occipitocervical fixation using plate-rod-polyaxial screw system and investigate whether this new system offers any advantage over other existing methods of fixation.[Method]Fourteen cases(male 9,female 5)accepted cervicooccipital fixation with plate-rod-polyaxial screw system.There were 3 cases of odontoid dysplasia with dislocation;spinal canal tumor in 3;2 cases of metastatic carcinoma with pathologic fracture of C_1 and C_2,rheumatoid arthritis with cervicooccipital instability,and fasilar impression;burst fracture of C_1 with oecipital-atlantal-axial instability in 1.Twelve cases had neck pain.Thirteen cases had neurological deficits in different degrees.JOA score was 12.4 on average.[Result]The positions of all screws were good.There was no complication related to inserting screws.All neck pain released.Fourteen-months follow-up was obtained on average in 13 patients.Cervicooccipital nonunion was in one case and its occipital screws were pulled out.Twelve patients had satisfactory fixation and got firm fusion.Ameliotate rate of JOA score of the neurological function was 63.0%.[Conclusion]These initial data indicate that posterior occipitocervical fixation using plate-rod-polyaxial screw system is safe and reliable,and satisfactory clinical outcome can be obtained.The system appears to offer some advantages over other existing methods of fixation.