Orthopedic & Muscular System: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Surgical Cervical Reconstruction with Pedicle Screw Fixation for Traumatic Cervical Instability

Masashi Uehara, Jun Takahashi, Hiroki Hirabayashi, Nobuhide Ogihara, Keijiro Mukaiyama, Shugo Kuraishi, Masayuki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Hashidate and Hiroyuki Kato

Cervical reduction and fixation are required in cases of cervical fracture-dislocation with instability. This study evaluated the surgical results of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) fixation using a computed tomography (CT)-based navigation system for the treatment of traumatic cervical instability. Nineteen patients who underwent CPS fixation using a CT-based navigation system for cervical trauma were studied. Preoperative neurological deficits improved by at least 1 grade on the Frankel scale in 12 (63.2%) patients after surgery. None of the patients’ neurological deficits worsened after surgery. The mean C2–7 lordotic angle in the neutral position significantly improved from 6.2 to 12.1 degrees after surgery ( p = 0.014). The major perforation rate for CPS was 8.2% (7/85 screws). There were no instrumentation-related neural or vascular injuries. The results of this study suggest that CPS fixation using a CT- based navigation system is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of traumatic cervical instability.