Transfacetal Screw Fixation for Subaxial Cervical Spine.

Abstract

In the modern era of spine surgery for subaxial cervical spine, transfacetal screw fixation has evolved enormously. Transfacetal screw fixation for subaxial cervical spine is a biomechanically effective technique. In this fixation, four cortical surfaces of the facets are purchased by the transfacetal screws. In this video, we demonstrated the surgical technique of posterior transfacetal screw fixation. Transfacetal screw fixation of subaxial cervical spine was done along with posterior decompression. The entry point of transfacetal screw was defined as 1 mm caudal to mid-point of lateral mass, and screws were directed perpendicular to facet joint in the sagittal plane and straight in the coronal plane. Bone chips were placed over decorticated lateral mass after decompression. Patient had uneventful recovery and maintained good status at follow up. In subaxial cervical spine, transfacetal screw fixation is a biomechanically effective, rigid, and an inexpensive technique to obtain immediate rigid fixation.