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Occipitocervicothoracic fixation for spinal instability in patients with neoplastic processes
1Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|July 27, 1999
Summary
Occipitocervicothoracic (OCT) fixation effectively stabilizes severe spinal instability in cancer patients. This procedure offers significant pain relief and improves neurological function, even in complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Occipitocervicothoracic (OCT) fixation is a rare surgical procedure for severe spinal instability.
- This study retrospectively reviews OCT fixation in patients with neoplastic processes.
Observation:
- 13 patients underwent OCT fixation for spinal instability due to cancer or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Titanium rods, wires, cables, and hooks were used for fixation, with allograft for arthrodesis.
- Follow-up ranged from 1 to 45 months, with no surgical deaths.
Findings:
- All patients with spinal pain experienced pain reduction.
- Neurologically impaired patients showed improvement, with seven of seven improving and six of seven improving one Frankel grade.
- No instrumentation failures or hardware complications occurred, though one patient required revision.
Implications:
- OCT fixation is an effective stabilization method for selected patients with spinal instability.
- The procedure can lead to significant pain relief and neurological improvement.
- This technique offers a viable option for managing complex spinal conditions in oncology patients.