Odontoid process and clival regeneration with Chiari malformation worsening after transoral decompression: an unexpected and previously unreported cause of “accordion phenomenon” (original) (raw)
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Acta Neurochirurgica, 2009
Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of instrumented rod and wire fusion in children with craniovertebral junction (CVJ) instability and os odontoideum. Methods We evaluated seven children (mean age 9.85 years) with Down and Morquio’s syndromes and primary os odontoideum. X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the CVJ showed reducible instability in all of the cases but one. All the children underwent surgical correction by means of posterior wiring, instrumentation, fusion and external orthosis. A posterior wiring technique was also utilized in the only child with irreducible preoperative atlantoaxial instability, which, however, proved to be reducible under general anesthesia. Findings At maximum follow-up (observation range 28 to 106 months, mean 59.42 months), the clinical picture was improved in all the patients. The postoperative neuroradiological investigations demonstrated satisfactory bony fusion with neural decompression in all patients. Conclusions A wiring technique to correct atlantoaxial instabilities has been shown to be more relevant in these children with syndromic atlantoaxial dislocation and os odontoideum due to its simplicity, safety (continuous fluoroscopic assistance is not necessary and there is no risk of neuro-vascular injuries) and lower costs (no complex hardware devices; no neuronavigation systems are required). Preoperative irreducibility of the C1-C2 shift is not an absolute criterion for transoral decompression in children since os odontoideum can be reduced under general anesthesia.
World Neurosurgery: X, 2019
BACKGROUND: Ventral brainstem compression secondary to complex craniovertebral junction abnormality is an infrequent cause of neurologic deterioration in pediatric patients. However, in cases of symptomatic, irreducible ventral compression, 360 decompression of the brainstem supported by posterior stabilization may provide the best opportunity for improvement in symptoms. More recently, the endoscopic endonasal corridor has been proposed as an alternative method of odontoidectomy associated with less morbidity. We report the largest single case series of pediatric patients using this dual-intervention surgical technique. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of pediatric patients who underwent posterior occipitocervical decompression and instrumentation followed by endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy performed to relieve neurologic impingement involving the ventral brainstem and craniocervical junction.-METHODS: Between January 2011 and February 2017, 7 patients underwent posterior instrumented fusion followed by endonasal endoscopic odontoidectomy at our unit. Standardized clinical and radiological parameters were assessed before and after surgery. A univariate analysis was performed to assess clinical and radiologic improvement after surgery.-RESULTS: A total of 14 operations were performed on 7 pediatric patients. One patient had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 1 patient had a Chiari 1 malformation, and the remaining 5 patients had Chiari 1.5 malformations. Average extubation day was postoperative day 0.9. Average day of initiation of postoperative feeds was postoperative day 1.0.-CONCLUSIONS: The combined endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy and posterior decompression and fusion for complex craniovertebral compression is a safe and effective procedure that appears to be well tolerated in the pediatric population.
Odontoid compression of the brainstem without basilar impression – “ odontoid invagination”
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 2005
We report five patients with odontoid invagination, in which the odontoid process bulges upward into the foramen magnum and compresses the brainstem without deformity of the occipital bone. Two patients had a craniovertebral abnormality associated with Chiari malformation without instability of the craniovertebral junction (stable odontoid invagination). The other three patients had dislocation of the craniovertebral junction due to iatrogenic destruction of the occipital condyle, rheumatoid arthritis or an anomaly of C2 (unstable odontoid invagination). Patients with stable odontoid invagination underwent a transoral odontoidectomy followed by occipitocervical fixation. Those with unstable odontoid invagination underwent cervical traction followed by posterior fixation in reducible cases, while in irreducible cases odontoidectomy with subsequent occipitocervical fixation was performed. Decompression of the neuraxis together with symptomatic improvement was achieved in all patients and none became unstable or developed new symptoms during follow-up ranging from 3 to 15 years. ª
The influence of transoral odontoid resection on stability of the craniovertebral junction
Journal of Neurosurgery, 1992
✓ Twenty-seven cases of craniovertebral junction compression treated with transoral surgery were reviewed to assess the influences of pathological processes and surgical interventions on spinal stability. All patients presented with signs and symptoms of spinal-cord or brain-stem dysfunction. Pathology included rheumatoid arthritis in 11 patients, congenital osseous malformations in 11, spinal fractures in two, plasmacytoma in one, osteomyelitis in one, and a gunshot injury in one. Instability was defined as clear radiographic evidence of mobile subluxation in conjunction with clinical assessment. Of 19 patients (70%) requiring internal fixation, nine underwent upper cervical fusion and 10 had occipitocervical fusion. When instability occurred, all subluxations were at the C1–2 level. There were no occipitoatlantal subluxations. Eight patients (30%) had preoperative instability of the craniovertebral junction due solely to their pathology, 11 patients (40%) suffered instability afte...
Operative Neurosurgery, 2016
BACKGROUND During the past decades, the transoral transpharyngeal approach has been advocated as the standard route for the removal of odontoid causing an irreducible symptomatic neural compression. However, it may be potentially associated with a significant built-in morbidity because of the splitting of the soft palate for an adequate working angle, tracheostomy, and incision of the oral mucosa, causing exposure to a higher risk of infection by oral flora. OBJECTIVE To describe our experience with the minimally invasive pure endoscopic transnasal odontoidectomy in patients with bulbomedullary compression affected by complex anterior craniovertebral junction abnormalities. METHODS Five patients underwent a pure endoscopic neuronavigation-assisted transnasal odontoidectomy with anterior C1 arch preservation. Moreover, the anterior cervical spine column was reconstructed by filling the gap between the C1 arch and the residual C2 body with autologous/artificial bone. Neither tracheost...
Craniovertebral junction lesions: our experience with the transoral surgical approach
European Spine Journal, 2009
The aim of this study is to review our experience with the transoral surgical management of anterior craniovertebral junction (CVJ) lesions with particular attention to the decision making and to the indication for a consecutive stabilization. During 10 years (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), 52 consecutive patients presenting exclusively fixed anterior compression at the cervicomedullary junction underwent transoral surgery. Mean age was 55.85 years (range 17-75 years). Encountered lesions were: malformation (32 cases), rheumatoid arthritis (11 cases), tumor (5 cases) or trauma (4 cases). A total of 79% of patients presented with chronic/recurrent headache (cranial and/or high-cervical pain), 73% with varying degrees of quadrip aresis, and 29% with lower cranial nerve deficits. All of the patients but two, with posterior stabilization performed elsewhere, underwent synchronous anterior decompression and posterior occipitocervical fixation. Adjuncts to the transoral approach (Le Fort I with or without splitting of the palate), tailored to the local anatomy and to the extension of the lesions, were performed in seven cases. Follow-up ranged between 4 and 96 months. Of 35 patients with severe preoperative neurological deficits, 33 improved. The remaining 15 patients who presented with mild symptoms, healed throughout the follow-up. Perioperative mortality occurred in two cases and surgical morbidity in eight cases (dural laceration, cerebrospinal fluid leak with meningitis, malocclusion, oral wound dehiscence and occipital wound infection). Delayed instability occurred in one patient because of cranial settling of C2 vertebral body. A successful surgery achieving a stable decompression at the CVJ is an expertise demanding procedure.
European Spine Journal, 2011
Treatment for craniocervical junction lesions associated with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has been described, but there are divergent views on operative procedures and preoperative and postoperative therapies due to the small number of cases. It has been suggested that a major procedure such as combined anterior and posterior surgery with concomitant ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is required for OI associated with basilar impression (BI). However, here we report a case with a good outcome after posterior decompression fusion only. The patient was a 29-year-old woman with OI (Sillence type-IA) who had neurological symptoms of vertigo, nausea, and shaking during walking. Diagnostic imaging revealed hydrocephalus, severe BI, and Chiari type-II malformation. Preoperative Halo traction led to improvement in symptoms, and posterior decompression fusion from the occipital bone to C6 was subsequently performed. Lateral mass screws and Nesplon cables as sublaminar wiring for reinforcement for fusion were used in the operation. The patient wore a Halo vest for 4 weeks postoperatively. She experienced no symptoms postoperatively. Bone fusion and improved hydrocephalus were clear on images at 3 years after surgery, and the postoperative course has been good. In craniocervical junction lesions associated with OI, instability with compression of the nerve and bone fragility in multiple sites can become problematic. Anterior odontoid resection and posterior fusion are required for OI with BI to give ideal decompression on images. However, the results of this case suggest that a good postoperative outcome can be achieved by performing not the combination of anterior odontoid resection and VP shunting, but only with posterior decompression fusion, especially for OI cases of Sillence type-I.
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 2010
The aim of this study was to examine the long-term outcomes of treating irreducible craniovertebral junction bony compression via the transoral approach, with a minimum of 4 years of follow-up. Between 1996 and 2005, the transoral transpharyngeal approach was used for 10 patients who underwent anterior decompression and posterior fusion and two who underwent only anterior decompression. All patients were monitored intraoperatively using combined somatosensory/motor evoked potentials. All patients reported substantial or complete resolution of pain. Six out of the eight patients with preoperative myelopathy experienced an improvement of one Ranawat classification level. Solid fusion was achieved in all patients, and no patient had iatrogenic neurological deficits or cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Two patients experienced wound dehiscence requiring resuturing, one experienced velopalatine incompetence, and one experienced wound infection. There was no re-growth of the bony lesion during follow up. Transoral repair provided generally acceptable long-term results for irreducible craniovertebral junction bony compression. Intraoperative spinal cord monitoring may be useful for preventing neurological complications.
Neurosurgical focus, 2015
The transoral approach is considered the gold-standard surgical route for performing anterior odontoidectomy and ventral decompression of the craniovertebral junction for pathological conditions that result in symptomatic cervicomedullary compression, including basilar invagination, rheumatoid pannus, platybasia with retroflexed odontoid processes, and neoplasms. Extended modifications to increase the operative corridor and exposure include the transmaxillary, extended "open-door" maxillotomy, transpalatal, and transmandibular approaches. With the advent of extended endoscopic endonasal skull base techniques, there has been increased interest in the last decade in the endoscopic endonasal transclival transodontoid approach to the craniovertebral junction. The endonasal route represents an attractive minimally invasive surgical alternative, especially in cases of irreducible basilar invagination in which the pathology is situated well above the palatine line. Angled endosco...