Anterior fixation of the axis

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spine Surgery

Background:

• Anterior C2 plate fixation is an uncommon but valuable technique for specific upper cervical injuries and spondylosis.
• Degenerative spondylosis often necessitates surgical intervention for the upper cervical spine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the surgical technique and evaluate outcomes of anterior C2 plate fixation.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of this method, particularly in patients with degenerative spondylosis.

Main Methods:

• A series of 46 consecutive patients underwent single or multilevel C2 fusions over 7 years.
• Surgical exposure involved rostral extension of the standard anterior cervical approach.
• Detailed screw placement parameters and patient follow-up were recorded.

Main Results:

• Fusion was achieved in all patients with long-term follow-up.
• Procedure-related mortality was 4.4%, with 8.9% perioperative morbidity.
• Initial dysphagia in 15.2% of patients resolved by 8 weeks post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Anterior plate fixation of the axis for degenerative disease is feasible.
• The technique can be performed with acceptable morbidity using an extended anterolateral approach.
• This method provides a reliable solution for managing complex upper cervical conditions.