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Posterior spinal fusion of the cervical spine using the Alligator plate: operative technique and clinical results

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Résumé

Nous avons créé un nouveau type de plaque à machoire appelée plaque “Alligator” destinée à l'arthrodèse postérieure du rachis cervical et nous l'avons appliquée à quelques cas d'unstabilité cervicale. L'évaluation clinique a porté sur 17 cas présentant une instabilité cervicale traitée par arthrodèse postérieure à l'aide de plaques “Alligator”. L'évaluation a aussi porté sur un groupe témoin comportant 21 cas traités par la méthode du cerclage. Les résultats cliniques ont été évalués radiologiquement d'après les clichés dynamiques de profil en flexion-extension, et confirmation de la fusion osseuse sur les radios de profil. Les résultats obtenus dans le groupe traité par les plaques “Alligator” ont été excellents chez 15 patients, bons chez l'un et mauvais chez un autre. Les résultats obtenus avec le cerclage ont été excellents chez 15 patients, bons chez trois, passables chez un et mauvais chez deux. La plaque “Alligator” représente une alternative intéressante en matière d'implants cervicaux; elle est d'une stabilité suffisante et peut se montrer de ce fait utile dans le traitement de l'instabilité du rachis cervical inférieur.

Summary

We have designed a new type of clamping plate called the “Alligator plate” for posterior cervical spinal fixation and used it in some cases with cervical instability. Seventeen patients with cervical instability treated by posterior cervical fixation using Alligator plate were clinically evaluated. As a control group, 21 patients treated by a wire fixation method (cerclage) were also evaluated. Clinical results were evaluated radiographically on dynamic flexion-extension lateral radiographs with confirmation of the fusion mass on oblique-view radiographs. The results of Alligator plate fixation were excellent in 15 patients, good in one and poor in one. The results of wire fixation were excellent in 15 patients, good in three, fair in one and poor in two. A safe and simple alternative instrumentation, the Alligator plate has sufficient stability to be useful for treating instability of the lower cervical spine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka Prefectural Hospital, Osaka, Japan

    T. Fuji, M. Tanaka, S. Hirota & T. Mitsuoka

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan

    K. Masuhara

  3. Hamada Orthopaedic Clinic, Osaka, Japan

    H. Hamada

Authors
  1. T. Fuji
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  2. M. Tanaka
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  3. S. Hirota
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  4. K. Masuhara
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  5. T. Mitsuoka
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  6. H. Hamada
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Fuji, T., Tanaka, M., Hirota, S. et al. Posterior spinal fusion of the cervical spine using the Alligator plate: operative technique and clinical results. Eur Spine J 2, 169–174 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301417

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301417

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