Stereotactic atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation

Atlantoaxial stabilisation can be performed using a variety of surgical techniques. Developments in spinal instrumentation and stereotactic technology have been incorporated into these procedures. We have recently adopted frameless stereotaxy to assist in such operations. A retrospective study of patients treated by the authors and using frameless stereotaxy from 2001 to 2002 was performed. Each patient underwent pre-operative fine-cut CT in the position of fixation. Using these images, screw trajectory was planned. Stereotaxis and fluoroscopy was utilised during fixation. A post-operative CT was performed. There were nine patients. Bilateral screw placement was achieved in eight. In the remaining case stereotactic planning predicted the single screw fixation. There were no post-operative complications. Post-operative CT showed screw placement corresponding to the planned trajectory in all 17 screws. Stabilisation was achieved in all. Stereotactic atlantoaxial screw fixation is an accessible, safe and accurate method for the management of C1-2 instability.