C1C2 Wiring and Posttraumatic Atlantoaxial Dislocation: An Effective and Cheap Surgical Procedure in a Developing Country

Abstract

Objectives: Atlantoaxial dislocation remains a rare and serious condition with a high preoperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Its successful surgical management is still challenging and gratifying for neurosurgeons. Several technics have been described such as wiring, trans articular screwing, C1C2 screwing with plate and screw introduced by Goel et al., and modified by insertion of polyaxially screw and rod many years later by Harms. Unavailability and expensiveness of upper cervical spine instrumentation device led us to C1C2 Wiring resulting in a good outcome. Finally, a quadriplegic patient with a more comfortable financial condition had ordered devices from abroad and benefit for Goel and Harms screwing technique and improved dramatically from ASIA A to ASIA E. Material and methods: This is a retrospective study of patients managed in our department by a same neurosurgeon from January 2019 to April 2024. Results: We defined 6 men and 1 woman with an average age of 33 years. Unrestrained driver in a rollover motor vehicle accident was most common. Only one patient was neurologically intact on admission. Neurovegetative disorders were noticed in one patient.