Introduction: The aim of the study was to study pre- and postoperative symptoms, radiological findings and operative complications in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, operated in the atlantoaxial joint.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 31 RA patients (24 women, seven men) operated for anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (aAAS) at the Neurosurgical Department, Aarhus University Hospital, in the period of 1993-2003. Information was obtained retrospectively from the patients charge.
Results: Mean age at RA debut was 38 years (16-69 yrs), and neck symptoms were seen after a mean time of 15 years (0-39 yrs) of illness. Radiological examination at this time showed irreversible atlantoaxial changes, and operation was performed within 0-9 years (mean 1.6 yrs). The patients were characterized by high disease activity: C-reactive protein, anaemia, positive IgM-rheumatoid factor (84%), and progressive radiological changes in the peripheral joints. All patients were treated with DMARDs (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs). Neck pain (100%) and neurological symptoms/manifestations (87%) were seen preoperatively. After operation symptoms were relieved in 68% of the patients, while 22% were unchanged, and 10% had worsened. Postoperative complications included cardiac death, dislocation of the cervical spine, fracture of arcus atlantis, hemiparesis, dysphagia, bed sores and infection of the surgical scar (29%).
Conclusion: Neck symptoms were seen after 15 years of illness, and within the following 1.6 years patients were operated for aAAS. After the operation most of the patients (68%) had relief from symptoms, while 29% had postoperative complications, including cardiac death, dislocation of the cervical spine, fracture of arcus atlantis, hemiparesis, dysphagia, bed sores and infection in the surgical scar.