Occipitocervical fusion. Indications, technique, and long-term results in thirteen patients.

Thirteen patients who underwent occipitocervical fusion that was performed using the same operative technique were followed for an average of 3.6 years (range, two to seven years). The indications for surgery were occipitocervical instability, neurological deficit, or intractable pain that was not responsive to non-operative treatment. Of the thirteen patients, eight had rheumatoid arthritis, two had atlanto-axial osteomyelitis, and one patient each had trauma, ankylosing spondylitis, and atlanto-occipital osteoarthritis. At follow-up, all of the thirteen patients had a solid arthrodesis and relief of severe pain in the neck. Of the ten patients who had had myelopathy preoperatively, all improved, but of four patients who had been unable to walk preoperatively because of severe motor involvement, only one was considered to be able to walk. Of the thirteen patients, ten had a satisfactory result. Occipitocervical arthrodesis using iliac grafts and the wiring technique that is described herein achieves immediate stable fixation, allowing early mobilization with a successful arthrodesis, and it should be undertaken before severe myelopathy occurs in patients who have instability of the cervical spine. The operation may optimize the patient's chances of neurological recovery.