Surgical treatment of post-traumatic epiphyseolisthesis at odontoid process in children / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluated the indications, methods, outcomes and prognosis of surgical treatment for post-traumatic epiphyseolisthesis at odontoid process in children.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on 5 cases of children with delayed epiphyseolisthesis of odontoid process in our institution from July 2009 to October 2016, including 1 male and 4 females. Initial surgery age were at1.7~5.4 years old, averaged (39.6±19.4) months and were 0.67-8 months, averaged (87.0±95.1) days. Disease duration ranged from 23 days to 8 months, with an average of 88 days. X-ray, CT and MRI examinations of the occipital-cervical area were taken to evaluate the type of the fracture and the severity of spinal cord compression. Children were treated with anterior loosening combined with posterior fixation fusion or posterior loosening reduction and internal fixation respectively.The function of spinal cord was evaluated by Frankel scale at pre- and post- operation. During the follow-up, X-ray and CT were performed to assess the fusion condition of the grafted bone.Results:The duration of operation was ranged from 75-145 months, with an average of (101.0±20.7) months; Blood loss ranged from 50-100 ml, with an average of (70.0±21.2) ml; follow-up duration ranged from 6 to 48 months, with an average of (23.5±17.6) months. Two cases preoperatively evaluated as Frankel C and D recovered to postoperative Frankel E. Among the five cases, two received satisfactory reduction, two cases received incomplete reduction, and one experienced failure reduction. The epiphyseolisthesis and bone grafted sites achieved solid fusion at 6-15 months after surgery, with an average of (9.5±3.4) months. The physiological curvature of cervical remained well without bone resorption, nonunion, pseudoarthrosis, as well as screw loosening or broken. Internal fixation of 2 cases were removed.Conclusion:Children with post-traumatic epiphyseolisthesis at odontoid process are not common in clinical practice. The detailed diagnosis of medical history, physical examination and comprehensive imaging evaluation. The posterior approach technique of C1-2 was feasible and effective, which could obtain decompression, reconstruction andstability all together.