Transoral navigated full-endoscopic uniportal odontoidectomy: A report of two cases

Traditional odontoidectomy is highly invasive and often associated with significant complications. In contrast, transoral navigated endoscopic surgery (NES) is a minimally invasive technique that offers an alternative approach for odontoidectomy and decompression of the medulla oblongata. This study presents two cases of odontoid process disorders treated using transoral navigated full-endoscopic uniportal odontoidectomy.

The first case involved a 66-year-old female patient presenting with neck pain and bilateral upper limb discomfort. The second case was a 13-year-old male patient with cervical spine deformity and incomplete paralysis. Both patients underwent transoral navigated full-endoscopic uniportal odontoidectomy. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data, as well as imaging studies, were collected for analysis.

Both patients were extubated promptly after surgery, once they awoke from general anesthesia. No severe perioperative complications occurred. Both patients experienced immediate improvement in symptoms and neurological function postoperatively. Postoperative CT and MRI scans confirmed that the extent of odontoid process resection aligned with preoperative expectations.

The transoral navigated full-endoscopic uniportal odontoidectomy technique provides an effective option for simple odontoid resection. This approach reduces the risk of approach-related complications and promotes accelerated postoperative recovery.