Turkish Neurosurgery 2013 , Vol 23 , Num 5
A New Guide Tube for Odontoid Screw Fixation for Unstable Odontoid Fractures: Report of 6 Case Series
Yusuf Kurtulus DURANSOY1, Mesut METE1, Mehmet ZILELI2, Mehmet SELCUKI1
1Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Manisa, Turkey
2Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Izmir, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.7914-13.0 AIM: We describe a modified form of traditional open surgery with a new guide tube. This guide tube permits anterior screwing of odontoid in a shorter time with a more simple technique as compared to traditional open surgery, endoscopic and percutaneous surgeries.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Our series includes 6 patients who were operated for unstable odontoid fracture. We used a new guide tube for anterior odontoid screw fixation. This guide tube was designed by the first author to facilitate the insertion of the K-wire for placement of a cannulated lag screw.

RESULTS: Successful placement of the odontoid screws and immediate spinal stabilization were achieved in all patients. Solid fusion was observed during follow-up time in all patients.

CONCLUSION: This screw insertion technique for odontoid screw fixation provides a minimally invasive, safe and easy surgery in contrast to other surgical approaches. Keywords : Odontoid fracture, New guide tube, Odontoid Screw fixation

Corresponding author : Yusuf Kurtulus Duransoy, ykduransoy@hotmail.com