Introduction: Conventionally, posterior C1-C2 fusion has been performed using a sublaminar wiring technique with a structural bone graft. Subsequent advent of newer fixation devices, such as the C1 lateral mass screw and C1 hook, has achieved more solid fixation with improved surgical outcome; however, in these fixation systems, the protruding end of the metal implant above the level of the atlas may result in a complication due to contact with the surrounding structures.
Case description: Two men and two women whose ages at the time of surgery ranged from 14 to 72 years. A supralaminar hook was used as a fixation device for C1 in two cases, whereas a lateral mass screw (Tan's method) and an atlas claw hook were employed for one each of the remaining 2 cases. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and postoperative course of these patients using the clinical records. Moreover, we measured the protruding height of the instrument above the atlas as well as the Redlund-Johnell (R-J) value on postoperative radiographs. All patients complained of crepitus and/or pain on neck extension. Erosion in the occipital bone was detected on multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography (MPR-CT), whereas plain radiographs failed to reveal the bony change. In those cases, protruding instruments used for C1 fixation contacted the occipital bone resulting in an erosive change at the impingement point. We removed the implant in all four cases after confirmation of solid bony union.
Discussion and evaluation: Two of the four patients complained of occipital crepitus alone without pain. The management options for this condition may be controversial; however, progression of bony erosion may result in perforation of the occipital bone. This may possibly be associated with the serious complication of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Considering this potential sequela, we removed the implants from all our reported cases after confirmation of solid bony union.
Conclusions: We treated four cases that developed erosion in the occipital bone after posterior spinal instrumentation was performed for upper cervical lesions including C1. MPR-CT was useful in detecting the erosive changes in the occipital bone.
Keywords: Bone erosion; Occipital bone; Posterior spinal fixation.