2Acıbadem Hastanesi, İstanbul Objective: The aim of this study is to present the indications, surgical technique of lateral mass plate / rod application in the cervical region and the complications of the surgery.
Methods: Twenty-two cases of cervical instability that underwent cervical lateral mass plate-rod application because of posttraumatic cervical instability, tumor, degenerative disease and iatrogenic cervical instability had been included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.3 years, 17 of them were male and 5 were women were female. The indications for surgery, the complications and the follow-up results were evaluated.
Results: Sixteen patients were taken into operation because of traumatic instability, 2 patients had degenerative disease, two had tumor, one had iatrogenic instability and one had rheumatoid arthritis. Roy-Camille, Magerl and An methods were used for plate application. A plate was used in 12 and a rod system in 10 of the cases. No new neurological deficits or neurovascular injuries were detected. The patients were followed for a mean of 26.4 months. In one case screw loosening was detected and cervical alignment was lost in the late postoperative period in two of the cases. One of these cases was managed by posterior bony fusion with wire fixation. The other patient was managed was detected. We achieved a stable bony fusion in 95 % of the cases.
Conclusion: Lateral mass plate / rod application is appropriate and effective method for the treatment and the prevention of cervical instability.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Cervical instability, lateral mass, plating