Objective: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of spinal pedicle screw internal fixation through endoscope-assisted posterior approach for the treatment of traumatic atlantoaxial instability.
Methods: Between September 2008 and September 2010, 44 patients with traumatic atlantoaxial instability received spinal pedicle screw internal fixation through endoscope-assisted posterior operation (micro-invasive surgical therapy group, n=22) or traditional surgical therapy (control group, n=22). There was no significant difference in gender, age, type of injury, disease duration, and preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The blood loss, operation time, length of the incision, improvement rate of JOA, and graft fusion rates were compared between 2 groups to assess the clinical outcomes.
Results: The blood loss, operation time, and length of the incision in the micro-invasive surgical therapy group were better than those in control group (P < 0.05). All incisions were primary healing. Of 88 pedicle screws, 7 pedicle screws penetrated into the interior walls of cervical transverse foramen in the micro-invasive surgical therapy group and 8 in the control group, but there was no syndrome of vertebral artery injury. All patients of the 2 groups were followed up 12 to 37 months (mean, 26 months). Bony fusion was achieved in all cases within 3 to 12 months (mean, 5.3 months). No loosening or breakage of screw occurred. At 6 months to 1 year after operation, the internal fixator was removed in 6 cases and the function of head and neck rotary movement were almost renewed. The JOA score was significantly improved at last follow-up when compared with preoperative score (P < 0.05), and no significant difference in JOA score and improvement rate between the 2 groups at last follow-up (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The micro-invasive surgical therapy can acquire the same effectiveness to the traditional surgical therapy in immediate recovery of stability, high graft fusion rate, and less complication. Moreover, it can significantly reduce the operation time, blood loss, and soft tissue injury, so this approach may be an ideal way of internal fixation to treat traumatic atlantoaxial instability.