PURPOSE: Evaluation of effectiveness of internal rigid fixation for occipito-cervical fusion with occipital hooks and cervical screws and/or hooks to improve fusion in young or small children with various bone dysplasia or congenital abnormality.METHODS: Fourteen children with mean age of 8.4 years and height and weight below 140 cm and 35 kg, respectively, who underwent occipito-cervical fusion for miscellaneous pathologies reading to stenosis and/or instability were reviewed. The posterior instrumentation consisted of a precontoured titanium plate rod with an occipital fixation by hooks and a vertebral fixation by screws and/or hooks. Eight patients had cervical fixation with C2 pedicle screws. The mean follow-up was 48 months (27-81 months).RESULTS: Thirteen patients (92.8 %) had a complete fusion and no failure of the fixation was observed. We had two deep wound infections not related to implants.CONCLUSION: Instrumentation was technically feasible even in a very young child. Rigid internal fixation in the little children did not increase surgical complications and significantly increased the union rate of occipito-cervical arthrodesis.
Adolescent Atlanto-Occipital Joint