Densitometric comparison of 3 occipital regions for suitability of fixation

Document Type

Article

Abstract

©AANS, 2016. OBJECTIVE: Atlantooccipital fixation is an important technique in the treatment of upper cervical spine instability. Important considerations for implant devices are obtrusiveness and propagation of torque through the device caused by cervical rotation. The authors evaluated the feasibility of 3 regions of the occiput as sites for occipitocervical fixation by examining bone mineral density at these locations. METHODS: Unembalmed occiputs of 9 male and 4 female cadavers were used (mean age at time of death was 61.6 years, range 36-68 years). Studies were undertaken using caliper measurements and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the superior nuchal line (SNL), the external occipital protuberance (EOP), and the inferior nuchal line (INL). RESULTS: Data indicate that the bone at the INL has a similar volumetric bone density as the bone at the SNL, despite having half the thickness. Also, the volumetric bone density increases laterally along the nuchal lines. CONCLUSIONS: Most hardware fixation is centered on stabilization at the EOP and the SNL. On the basis of these radiological results, the INL shows promise as a potential alternative site for screw placement in occipitocervical fixation.

Keywords

Atlantooccipital fixation, Bone density, Cervical, Superior nuchal line

Publication Date

4-1-2016

Publication Title

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine

ISSN

15475654

E-ISSN

15475646

Volume

24

Issue

4

First Page

565

Last Page

569

PubMed ID

26722952

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3171/2015.7.SPINE141142

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS