Dorsal Cervical C1/C2 Fusion using C1 Lateral Mass-, C2 Lamina Screws and Interarcual Bonegraft

Aims: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of patients treated with dorsal cervical C1/C2 fusion using C1 massa lateralis screws, C2 lamina screws and interarcual bone graft.

Methods: Retrospective case series and description of technique. We analyzed clinical and radiological results of 8 patients treated 2011–2016 at 3 days, 3 months and 12 months postoperatively. The following outcome parameters were examined: neck pain, neurological deficits, vertebral artery injury, C2 root injury, malposition of screws, use of analgesics, radiological fusion rate and implant failure.

Results: None of the 8 patients suffered from vascular or neurological complications. One patient needed revision surgery for a medially malpositioned lateral mass screw on the right side. None of them had a new neurological deficit postoperatively. All 8 Patients were pain free and had ceased all analgetics at the first follow-up examination. At follow-up 1 year postoperatively none of the patients suffered from neck pain, no radiological signs for implant failure were found and bony onion between C1 and C2 was present in all patients.

Conclusion: Dorsal cervical C1/C2 fusion using C1 massa lateralis screws, C2 lamina screws and interarcual bone graft is less common technique, that can be used safely demonstrated good clinical results with regards to pain relief and high fusion-rate. The technique also offers an ideal alternative in when other techniques are not safe for anatomical reasons.