[Treatment of complex crainocervical junction malformation by transoccipito-cervical posterolateral approach].

OBJECTIVE

To report the treatment of six patients suffering from complex craniocervical junction (CCJ) malformation by transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach which is a new surgical method.

METHODS

Transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach was confirmed feasible by anatomy of the body. Diagnosis was made sure CT-three dimensional image and MRI for every patient. All cases reaived odontoidectomy and suboccipital decompression and/or bone graft.

RESULTS

All patients showed favorable outcome without deterioration or recurrence. Six patients were followed up for 15 - 10 months. All patients showed marked progressive improvement of neurological disturbances and three of them resumed work half a year after operation.

CONCLUSION

Transoccipitocervical posterolateral approach is a new surgical procedure by which anterior and posterior decompression of foramen magnun aria and bone graft (posterior craniocervical stabilization) could be fulfilled during one operation.