Posterior Osteotomy and Osteosynthesis for Malunited Atlas Fracture: A Surgical Technique

Abstract

Conservative treatment is commonly accepted and widely used for most atlas compression fractures. Malunion due to mismatching of the articular surfaces in C0-C1 and C1-C2 is therefore frequent even without associated instability. Such a result is considered acceptable in the elderly with low functional requests but should be avoided in young patients. Authors describe a new surgical technique to reduce and fix a nonunion and malunited fracture of the atlas through a posterior arch osteotomy followed by articular masses stabilization with polyaxial screws and precurved titanium rod. Rod prebending reduces lateral inclination of the screw heads during the reduction maneuver through compression applied between screw heads making it effective.