Surgical overreduction and hyperlordotic fusion of C1–C2 joint are associated with cervical sagittal malalignment

摘要

Abstract Introduction Previous studies have shown that hyperlordotic C1–C2 fusion was related to postoperative subaxial kyphosis. However, most of the patients in these studies were complicated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, no studies have specifically evaluated the relationship between C1–C2 fusion angle and cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), T1 slope or cranial tilt (CRT) after posterior C1–C2 fusion. This study aimed to investigate the cervical sagittal alignment in non-RA patients following posterior C1–C2 fusion and the correlation between C1–C2 fusion angle and postoperative cervical sagittal alignment. Materials and methods From August 2004 to December 2015, twenty-eight consecutive patients with an average age of 39.2?years (range 6–70?years) who underwent posterior C1–C2 fusion from a single institution were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 30.7?months (range 12–77?months). Angles of Oc–C1, C1–C2, C2–C3 and C2–C7, cSVA, T1 slope and CRT were measured in lateral cervical radiographs in neutral position before surgery and at the final follow-up. Results C1–C2 angle significantly increased from 13.6°?±?12.4° to 22.0°?±?8.1° at the final follow-up ( P ? P ? P ?=?0.011, respectively). Moreover, cSVA and CRT dramatically increased from pre-operation to the final follow-up ( P ? Conclusions Apart from decreased subaxial lordosis, posterior C1–C2 fusion in hyperextension may also lead to kyphotic change of atlanto-occipital alignment and increased tilting forward of the cervical spine. Therefore, intraoperative overreduction of C1–C2 angle and hyperlordotic C1–C2 fusion should be avoided to maintain the physiologic cervical sagittal alignment.