To determine the normal values and usefulness of the C1/4 space
available for spinal cord (SAC) ratio and C1 inclination angle,
which are new radiological parameters for assessing atlantoaxial
instability in children with Down syndrome. We recruited 272 children with Down syndrome (including 14 who
underwent surgical treatment), and 141 children in the control group.
All were aged between two and 11 years. The C1/4 SAC ratio, C1 inclination
angle, atlas-dens interval (ADI), and SAC were measured in those
with Down syndrome, and the C1/4 SAC ratio and C1 inclination angle
were measured in the control group.Aims
Patients and Methods
We reviewed the outcome of a retrospective case series of eight patients with
Objective: To review the clinical outcome of 37 consecutive patients undergoing C1– C2 transarticular fixation for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Design: Prospective Observational Study. Methods: There were 37 patients at 2 centres. Age range was 37– 82 years. The time since diagnosis to treatment was 2– 23 years. Clinical presentation included suboccipital pain in 26/ 37 patients and neck pain in 29/37 patients. 22 patients had presented with myelopathy ( Ranawat grade II or III A). The preoperative imaging included Plain X Rays, CT scans and MRI scans. All patients underwent C1/ C2 transarticular screws ( Stealth guided) except 4 patients in which an aberrant course of the vertebral artery was identified. Outcome measures: Functional outcome, Complications, Postoperative Neurological Status, Neck Disability index, Myelopathy disability index. Results: 1 patient had died at 12 month followup. Neck pain improved in 22( 75%) of patients by >
5 points on the VAS. Suboccipital pain had improved in all patients. 17 patients (80%) improved following operation on the Ranawat Grading, 2 patient were worse and 3 patients remained the same. >
70% patients reported improvement in neck disability index and >
50% patients reported improvement in myelopathy disability index. Conclusions: C1/ C2 Transarticular fixation with spinal navigation is a safe technique for treating
Introduction We review our experience with the use of plate and screw (C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle) method of fixation in the treatment of 300 patients with disorders of the craniovertebral junction during a 17-year period at our center. We previously described this method of fixation in 1994. Methods Between 1988 and 2004, 250 patients with
Transarticular screw fixation with autograft
is an established procedure for the surgical treatment of
Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis also affects the spine and creates conditions that need surgical treatment. As in other parts of the body, the maintenance of function and reduction of pain are primary goals of surgical treatment, however the additional threat to the neurological structures create an additional dimension in the surgical treatment of the spine. Destructive processes of osteoligamentous structures and severe osteoporosis may be blamed as the principle cause for pain, deformity and subsequent neurological deficit in the rheumatoid patient’s spine. Cervical spine
Introduction: The efficacy and complications of the transarticular screw procedure have been reported by many authors. However, few have reported this procedure for child younger than 10 years old. We have treated two children for atlantoaxial subluxation with transarticular screws, using a soft collar without a halo-vest, and have achieved bone union in good reduced position. Methods/results. Case 1: a 5-year-old boy with mental retardation and cerebellar infarction due to an insufficiency of the vertebral artery resulting in severe
Purpose. In stabilisations of
Purpose: Ligament laxity is a common feature of trisomy 21 and is incriminated in most of the orthopaedic disorders observed. Early diagnosis and management is essential. C1-C2 instability is a recognised manifestation in trisomy 21 and is associated, at least theoretically, with significant risk of cord complications. The purpose of this work was to provide a descriptive analysis of the C1-C2 joint in trisomy 21 and to analyse instability factors in order to determine the tolerable C1-C2 distance. Material and methods: Within the framework of a French national epidemiology survey of trisomy 21, we focused on the C1-C2 joint. A total of 472 children with trisomy 21 were identified; 458 who were examined were included in this study. Careful history taking and a detailed physical examination with neurological tests (search for even minimal signs of neurological disorders) was conducted. The Carter and Wilkinson method was used to assess joint laxity. The same specialist searched for other orthopaedic disorders. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of neurological signs. Two groups were also distinguished according to the presence or absence of generalised laxity (Carter and Wilkinson). Lateral x-rays centred on C1-C2 were performed by the same technician on the same machine with the patient in a neutral position, hyperflexion and hyperextension. The same technique inspired by the method described by Singer et al. and modified for simplification was used in all cases. The same observer interpreted the images using a single-blinded protocol to search for congenital malformations and signs of degeneration, measure the C1-C2 distance the minimal sagittal diameter and the C1-C2 angle (not reported in the literature and described for this study). These measures were then compared with data in the literature as available and correlated by age, gender, presence of neurological signs and joint laxity. Seven patients were excluded from the study due to insufficient cooperation for the x-rays and nine because of incomplete clinical or radiological data. The statistical analysis was performed on data from 442 patients. Quantitative variables were compared with the Pearson test and parameteric ANOVA was used to search for correlations of quantitative and qualitative variables. Significance was set at p<
0.05. Results: Mean patient age was 13.8 years. There were 184 girls and 258 boys. Minor neurological anomalies were found in 42% of the patients. There were no cases of major motor deficit. Generalised laxity as defined by Carter and Wilkinson was observed in 24% of patients. Other orthopaedic problems, basically of the foot, were found in 85%. The radiograms revealed a very wide range of measures were thus expressed as means. The C1-C2 distance was greater than 4 mm in 34 patients on the flexion films (limit established in the literature for instability in trisomy 21). The maximal C1-C2 distance in the neutral position was 8 mm, 9.6 mm in flexion. The lowest minimal sagittal distance was 8 mm in flexion and 10 mm in the neutral position (the lower limit reported in the literature before considering the cord to be threatened in 14 mm). The greatest variability was found for the C1-C2 angle. Ligament laxity and atlantoaxial distance were inversely proportional to patient age, but there was no significant correlation between
Structural defects of the posterior arch of the atlas are rare, and range from clefts of variable location and size to more extensive defects such as complete agenesis. These abnormalities are usually incidental radiological findings. We present a case of a fracture of the anterior arch of the atlas associated with a congenital abnormality of the posterior arch.
Although atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) is a common cause
of torticollis in children, the diagnosis may be delayed. The condition
is characterised by a lack of rotation at the atlantoaxial joint
which becomes fixed in a rotated and subluxed position. The management of
children with a delayed presentation of this condition is controversial.
This is a retrospective study of a group of such children. Children who were admitted to two institutions between 1988 and
2014 with a diagnosis of AARF were included. We identified 12 children
(four boys, eight girls), with a mean age of 7.3 years (1.5 to 13.4),
in whom the duration of symptoms on presentation was at least four weeks
(four to 39). All were treated with halo traction followed by a
period of cervical immobilisation in a halo vest or a Minerva jacket.
We describe a simple modification to the halo traction that allows
the child to move their head whilst maintaining traction. The mean follow-up
was 59.6 weeks (24 to 156).Aims
Patients and Methods
Patients with skeletal dysplasia are prone to
developing advanced osteoarthritis of the knee requiring total knee replacement
(TKR) at a younger age than the general population. TKR in this
unique group of patients is a technically demanding procedure owing
to the deformity, flexion contracture, generalised hypotonia and ligamentous
laxity. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 11 TKRs performed
in eight patients with skeletal dysplasia at our institution using
the Stanmore Modular Individualised Lower Extremity System (SMILES)
custom-made rotating-hinge TKR. There were three men and five women
with mean age of 57 years (41 to 79). Patients were followed clinically
and radiologically for a mean of seven years (3 to 11.5). The mean
Knee Society clinical and function scores improved from 24 (14 to
36) and 20 (5 to 40) pre-operatively, respectively, to 68 (28 to
80) and 50 (22 to 74), respectively, at final follow-up. Four complications
were recorded, including a patellar fracture following a fall, a
tibial peri-prosthetic fracture, persistent anterior knee pain,
and aseptic loosening of a femoral component requiring revision.
Our results demonstrate that custom primary rotating-hinge TKR in
patients with skeletal dysplasia is effective at relieving pain,
with a satisfactory range of movement and improved function. It compensates
for bony deformity and ligament deficiency and reduces the likelihood
of corrective osteotomy. Patellofemoral joint complications are
frequent and functional outcome is worse than with primary TKR in
the general population.
The Morquio syndrome is a rare disorder which presents with a number of musculoskeletal problems. The literature describing total knee replacement in these patients is sparse. We describe the management of a patient with bilateral instability and pain in the knees using bilateral constrained knee replacements, and followed up for five years with pre- and postoperative knee scores. We highlight the difficulties encountered and discuss the end results.
The management of joint replacement in lysosomal storage diseases has not been well reported. We present three patients with progressive degenerative changes of the hips who required bilateral total hip replacement in early childhood. The stature of the patients make it essential to have access to appropriately scaled prostheses. Consideration has to be given to associated disorders of the skeleton which must be carefully screened to ensure safety in providing appropriate anaesthesia as well as ensuring that there is no cardiac abnormality. In one patient, a periprosthetic fracture was sustained in one hip in the early post-operative course requiring internal fixation. The patient made a full recovery and all six hips were clinically and radiologically satisfactory at mid-term review.
The effect of rheumatoid arthritis on the anatomy of the cervical spine has not been clearly documented. We studied 129 female patients, 90 with rheumatoid arthritis and 39 with other pathologies (the control group). There were 21 patients in the control group with a diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and 18 with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. All had plain lateral radiographs taken of the cervical spine as well as a reconstructed CT scan. The axial diameter of the width of the pedicle, the thickness of the lateral mass, the height of the isthmus and internal height were measured. The transverse diameter of the transverse foramen (d1) and that of the spinal canal (d2) were measured, and the ratio d1/d2 calculated. The width of the pedicles and the thickness of the lateral masses were significantly less in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in those with other pathologies. The area of the transverse foramina in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly greater than that in the other patients. The ratio of d1 to d2 was not significantly different. A high-riding vertebral artery was noted in 33.9% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 7.7% of those with other pathologies. This difference was statistically significant. In the rheumatoid group there was a significant correlation between isthmus height and vertical subluxation and between internal height and vertical subluxation.
Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation in adults is usually fatal and survival without neurological deficit is rare. The surgical management of those who do survive is difficult and controversial. Most authorities recommend posterior occipitoaxial fusion, but this compromises cervical rotation. We describe a case in which a patient with a traumatic atlanto-occipital disruption but no neurological deficit was treated by atlanto-occipital fusion using a new technique consisting of cancellous bone autografting supported by an occipital plate linked by rods to lateral mass screws in the atlas. The technique is described in detail. At one year the neck was stable, radiological fusion had been achieved, and atlantoaxial rotation preserved. The rationale behind this approach is discussed and the relevant literature reviewed. We recommend the technique for injuries of this type.
We evaluated the use of surgical stabilisation for atlantoaxial subluxation after a follow-up of 24 years in 50 rheumatoid patients who had some degree of pain but no major neurological deficit. The mortality of patients treated by atlantoaxial fusion was significantly lower than for those who received conservative treatment. The deaths resulted from infection or comorbid conditions. The significantly high relative risks of mortality from conservative treatment compared with surgical treatment were mutilating disease and susceptible factors on both of the HLA-DRB1 alleles. Relief from pain and neurological and functional recovery were better, and the radiological degree of atlantoaxial translocation was less in those who were surgically treated compared with those who were not. Two patients had superficial local infections after surgery. We conclude that prophylactic atlantoaxial fusion is better than conservative treatment in these patients.