Percutaneous Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation

Abstract

Objective: A technical description of a novel percutaneous technique of anterior odontoid screw fixation is given and the clinical and radiological results of this technique in 5 patients are described.

Method: The percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation technique was described as a cadaveric study in 1999. To the best of our knowledge, no patient series operated on by this technique has so far been presented in the English literature. We have percutaneously operated on 5 patients with unstable odontoid fractures between February 2004 and July 2006.

Results: There have not been any complications in our patients. The first four patients showed radiological evidence of fusion in their latest control.

Conclusions: Percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation is a minimally invasive and feasible surgical procedure.

Key words

percutaneous - odontoid fracture - screw fixation - instrumentation - outcome

References

• 1 White  III  AA, Panjabi MM. Clinical biomechanics of the spine. 2nd edn. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott 1990: 610-611
• 2 Bohler J. Anterior stabilization for acute fractures and non-unions of the dens.  J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1982;  64 18-27
• 3 Apfelbaum RI, Lonser RR, Veres R. et al . Direct anterior screw fixation for recent and remote odontoid fractures.  J Neurosurg. 2000;  93 ((2 Suppl)) 227-236
• 4 Chiba K, Fujimura Y, Toyama Y. et al . Treatment protocol for fractures of the odontoid process.  J Spinal Disord. 1996;  9 267-276
• 5 Kazan S, Tuncer R, Sindel M. Percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation technique. A new instrument and a cadaveric study.  Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1999;  141 521-524
• 6 Anderson LD, D’Alonzo RT. Fractures of the odontoid process of the axis.  J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1974;  56 1663-1674

Correspondence