Direct osteosynthesis in the treatment of atlas burst fractures: a systematic review.

Purpose: The treatment of unstable atlas fractures remains a controversial topic. The study aims at assessing the prognosis and efficacy of osteosynthesis for unstable atlas fractures through a review of the current literature and additionally aims to compare outcomes between the transoral and posterior approaches.

Methods: A systematic review of databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang was conducted.

Design of a novel lateral mass screw-plate system for the treatment of unstable atlas fractures: a finite element analysis.

Background: Osteosynthesis of unstable atlas fractures preserves joint motion and therefore has a distinct advantage over a range of treatment procedures. To prevent the potential disadvantages associated with osteosynthesis, a new atlas lateral mass screw-plate (LMSP) system has been designed. However, the biomechanical role of using the LMSP system in atlas internal fixation is not known.

C1 anatomy and dimensions relative to pedicle screw placement.

The recent C1 pedicle screw technique for upper cervical vertebral stabilization allows longer screws to be implanted by setting the screw entry point through the posterior arch of C1, which could provide better biomechanics. However, there is controversy regarding the placement of C1 pedicle screws at different angles. We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) scans of 300 patients.