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Stabilization of the unstable upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis

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Summary

We present our clinical experience and the results of surgical treatment of 13 patients with rheumatoid involvement of the cervical spine, namely severe atlanto-axial dislocation. A posterior fusion was carried out using a bicortical H-shaped iliac crest bone graft and steel wire. Postoperatively all patients were immobilized for 8 weeks in a Halo cast.

There were no postoperative complications and all patients showed a stable fusion confirmed by radiography.

Complete pain relief was obtained in 9 patients, partial in 4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden

    H. Kourtopoulos & C. von Essen

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  1. H. Kourtopoulos
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  2. C. von Essen
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Kourtopoulos, H., von Essen, C. Stabilization of the unstable upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. Acta neurochir 91, 113–115 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01424564

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