Challenges of Transarticular Screw Fixation in Young Children: Report of Surgical Treatment of a 5-Year-Old Patient's Unstable Os-Odontoideum.

We present the patient's history, physical examination, and radiographic findings, describe the surgical treatment and a five year follow-up, and provide a literature review. The instability was treated by halo immobilization, followed by C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation using a computed tomography-based navigation system. At the five year follow-up, the patient had made a complete recovery with solid union. The authors conclude that C1-2 transarticular screw fixation is technically possible as in a case of atlantoaxial instability in a five-year-old child.
PMID: 27790327 [PubMed - in process]

Source: Asian Spine Journal - October 31, 2016 Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Asian Spine J Source Type: research