Occipital cervical stabilization using occipital condyles for cranial fixation: technical case report.

Journal: Neurosurgery
Published:
Abstract

Objective: Presentation of a successful case of craniocervical stabilization involving a novel surgical technique using the occipital condyles as the sole cranial fixation points.

Methods: A 22-year-old man presented in a delayed fashion with neck pain after a motor vehicle accident. Evaluation revealed a type 2 odontoid fracture with pseudarthrosis and displacement of the dens superiorly and cranial settling of the dens. Methods: The patient underwent posterior occipitocervical fixation with a polyaxial screw rod construct using the occipital condyle, C1 lateral mass, and C2 pars articularis for fixation. The patient had no immediate postoperative deficits. At the time of the 12-month follow-up examination, the patient was neurologically intact with a solid occipitocervical fusion.

Conclusions: Craniocervical stabilization using occipital condyle screws as the sole cephalad fixation points is a feasible option and can be used safely without neurovascular complication in the treatment of craniocervical instability.

Authors
Juan Uribe, Edwin Ramos, Ali Baaj, A Youssef, Fernando Vale