Surgical Treatment with Instrumentation for Severely Destructive Spondyloarthropathy of Cervical Spine

Abstract

Nine patients with severely destructive spondyloarthropathy and marked neurologic deficits associated with dialysis-related amyloidosis underwent posterior decompression and fusion by means of instrumentation at our institute. All patients showed segmental kyphosis, six patients vertebral ankylosis, and eight patients spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis at two levels was noted in three patients. Of the 11 levels of spondylolisthesis in all, 9 were proximally adjacent and 2 were distally adjacent to vertebral ankylosis. All patients underwent posterior decompression and multisegment fusion with autogenous iliac bone. From three to five spinal segments were fixed. Seven patients underwent posterior fusion by means of a pedicle or lateral mass screw between levels C3 and C7, one patient between C3 and C6, and one between C3 and T1. The clinical rate of improvement at the final follow-up was 74.3%. Though complete stability could not be achieved in three patients, the results were rated as good. No postoperative neurologic deterioration has been observed in this series, nor did any patients die immediately after surgery or during the postoperative follow-up period. As anterior long-span surgery might be too invasive for hemodialysis patients, we think that posterior decompression and fusion may well be a reasonable and effective strategy for severe hemodialysis-associated cervical spondyloarthropathy with neurologic deficits. To achieve complete stability, 360 degrees fusion with both anterior and posterior fixation with instrumentation may be required for these patients.