Trans-Articular C1-C2 Fixation: Results Of Twenty-Nine Patients

Twentynine patients having atlanto-axial instability were treated by trans-articular C1-C2 screw fixation .there were twenty one male and female patients with average age of 40.7 years( range, 16 - 56 ). There were eighteen cases of ligamentous atlanto- axial instability, five cases of C2 fracture, five patients with odontoid fracture and a case of non-union of odontoid. Patients were operated between 1-2 weeks of hospitalization. The follow-up averaged 43 months (range 24-60). Fusion occurred in 90% of the patients with good results in 86 % patients. Screw malpostioning, vertebral artery injury, and guide wire breakage were the complications observed during the study.This study establishes the efficacy of trans-articular screw fixation in these highly unstable injuries of cervical spine.