Lateral mass screw-rod fixation of the cervical spine: a retrospective radiological series with 1-year or 2- years follow-up.

초록

PURPOSE : Lateral mass plating is recently the technique of choice for posterior cervical fixation. Although the researchers have reported the biomechanical safety or screw positional methods of these systems, the authors have concerned long-term safety or junctional problems due to indispensible long-level screw fixations. The aim of this study assessed the radiological efficacy of lateral mass screw and rod system in cervical spine operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A retrospective review of 49 patients who had undergone lateral mass screw and rod system insertion procedures for cervical spine disease was performed. Radiologic data were analyzed as parameters of complications after operation, including pseudoarthrosis, kyphotic or lordotic change, implant failure, back out screw or screw malposition, foraminal stenosis, adjacent disc degeneration or aggravation, vertebral artery injury. RESULTS : In 49 patients 273 lateral mass screw were inserted. Mean follow up period was 12.8 months(7 months to 38 months). There were 3 kyphotic changes (0.06%), 1 screw back-out (0.02%), 1 screw malposition(0.02%), 1 foraminal stenosis(0.02%), and one adjacent disc protrusion was aggravated(0.02%). There is no vertebral artery injury on postoperative CT scan and screw loosening on dynamic x-ray follow up. Thus, the all patients that had complications were seven people (1.4%). CONCLUSION : Base on our finding, the lateral mass screw and rod system in cervical spine operation demonstrated a significantly lower rate of radiological complications related to instrument in the one- and two-year follow up.