Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation as a rare complication from head positioning in otologic surgery: Report of two cases in young children.

CONCLUSION: The correlation between the direction of torticollis and the side of surgery suggests that rotation of the head during surgery has an impact on development of postoperative atlantoaxial rotatory fixation. Thus, children undergoing otologic surgery are thought to be at a risk of postoperative atlantoaxial rotatory fixation. Although rare, the surgical team needs to be aware of this adverse event and pay close attention to this possibility throughout the perioperative period. Perioperative management should include informed consent, preoperative assessment of the range of head and neck motion, proper intraoperative positioning and monitoring of the position, and postoperative follow-up. Postoperative atlantoaxial rotatory fixation is not completely preventable, but good perioperative management can minimize the damage resulting from this condition. PMID: 28184249 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Patient Safety in Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Patient Saf Surg Source Type: research