Neurological recovery after occipitocervical fixation

To report on 14 consecutive cases of occipitocervical fixation.

Records of 8 men and 6 women aged 40 to 81 (mean, 57) years who underwent occipitocervical fixation and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. Neurological grading was assessed before and after surgery using the Ranawat grade. Intra-operative somatosensory evoked potentials were monitored.

The main indications for surgery were rheumatoid arthritis (n=6) and cervical metastasis (n=4). 77% of the patients demonstrated neurological improvement. Four out of the 5 non-ambulatory patients (Ranawat grade IIIB) regained ambulatory status postoperatively. No patient had neurological deterioration or evidence of vertebral artery or spinal cord injury. One endured a superficial wound infection and 2 had implant breakage.

Although occipitocervical fixation is technically challenging and there are risks of serious neurologic or vascular complications, it remains a viable option with favourable results in patients requiring stabilisation of the craniocervical junction.