Abstract
BACKGROUND: Posterior cervical approaches for atlantoaxial and craniovertebral junction pathologies with or without instrumentation are often associated with excessive soft tissue dissection and bleeding consequent with disruption of the venous plexus. A few minimally invasive approaches to this region have been reported from clinical and cadaveric studies in an effort to minimize blood loss, reduce soft tissue dissection, and decrease postoperative pain; however, unilateral minimally invasive approaches have not been described. Here, we describe a minimally invasive atlantoaxial and craniovertebral approach.
METHODS: Using fresh cadavers, we performed a novel, right-sided, muscle-sparing minimally invasive C1-C2 laminotomy with laminoplasty for access to the atlantoaxial level and craniovertebral junction and used the traditional approach on left sides.
RESULTS: Using this approach, the atlantoaxial space and craniovertebral junction with wide and generous exposure via unilateral soft tissue dissection and muscle splitting was achieved. After exposure, the musculoosseous unit was easily repositioned, thus allowing for C1-C2 laminoplasty. Grossly, no damage to the vertebral artery or regional nerves was noted.
CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel, unilateral minimally invasive approach to reach the atlantoaxial and craniovertebral junction. This could allow for faster postoperative recovery, less pain and opioid requirement, and increased maintenance of atlantoaxial stability. Such a technique, after being confirmed in patients, could optimize this surgical technique.