Lateral mass fixation can be used safely with a low rate of morbidity for cervical myelopathy treatment, according to a study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
Researchers examined 225 consecutive patients who underwent posterior cervical fixation using and screw-plate and polyaxial screw-rod implant system. For all patients, surgical indication was cervical spondylosis with myelopathy.
There were intraoperative complications with 27 screw placements and nerve irritation with three bicortical screws. The complications included hematoma formation, C5 root palsy after spinal decompression, pseudarthrosis and screw pull-out. There were no cases of death, infections or adjacent segment disease.
Reoperation was required in 6.2 percent of the cases.
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There were intraoperative complications with 27 screw placements and nerve irritation with three bicortical screws. The complications included hematoma formation, C5 root palsy after spinal decompression, pseudarthrosis and screw pull-out. There were no cases of death, infections or adjacent segment disease.
Reoperation was required in 6.2 percent of the cases.
Related Articles on Spine Surgery:
Study: Positional MRI Essential for Evaluating Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
Study Compares Morbidity and Mortality of Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusions
Study: BMP Safe in Posterolateral Spine Surgery Application