Research Article
Masashi Uehara, Jun Takahas
Abstract
Cervical reduction and fixation are required in cases of cervical fracture-dislocation with instability. This study evaluated the surgical results of cervical pedicle screw (CPS) fixation using a computed tomography (CT)-based navigation system for the treatment of traumatic cervical instability. Nineteen patients who underwent CPS fixation using a CT-based navigation system for cervical trauma were studied. Preoperative neurological deficits improved by at least 1 grade on the Frankel scale in 12 (63.2%) patients after surgery. None of the patients’ neurological deficits worsened after surgery. The mean C2–7 lordotic angle in the neutral position significantly improved from 6.2 to 12.1 degrees after surgery ( p = 0.014). The major perforation rate for CPS was 8.2% (7/85 screws). There were no instrumentation-related neural or vascular injuries. The results of this study suggest that CPS fixation using a CT- based navigation system is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of traumatic cervical instability.