Treatment of upper cervical spine injuries via the high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach

Abstract

Objective To study the indications and clinical outcome of the upper cervical spine via the high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach in treatment of upper cervical spine injuries. Methods There were 41 patients including 32 males and 9 females, at age of 12-67 years. Of all patients, there were 21 patients with Hangman fractures, two with fracture of C2 vertebral body, 12 with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation secondary to os odontoideum, four with C1,2 tuberculosis and two with C2 gaint cell tumor. All patients underwent the high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach to expose C1C3. C2,3 fusion followed by self-locking plate was performed for Hangman fractures and C2 fractures. Ventral reduction plud posterior aflantoaxial fusion was done for irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation secondary to os odontoideum. Lesion was cleared for tuberculosis and the tumor was resected and reconstructed. The neurological funcation was evaluated according to the ASIA criteria, the JOA score and Odom' s criteria. Results Successful exposure of arch of atlas to C3 was achived in all 41 patients, with satisfactory reducation, decompression, fusion, lesion resection and reconstruction. The trauma patients with normal neurological function showed no neurological deficit postoperatively, but those with quadriparesis had partial recovery. While the patients with illness obtained marked recovery of neurological function, with the JOA score from preoperative 8.9 to 12.5 at final follow-up. The clinical success rate (excellent/good/fair) reached 94. % according to Odom' s Criteria. Hypoglossal symptom was found in three patients and facial nerve symptom in two, without wound infection. Conclusions Via the high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach, the upper cervical spine can be thoroughly exposed to facilitate reduction, decompression and reconstruction and maximally restore physiological function of the cervical spine in treatment of the upper cervical spine injuries. Key words: Spinal fractures; Cervical vertebrae; Dislocations; Fracture fixation; internal; Anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach