Autogenic Rib Graft for Atlantoaxial and Occipitocervical Fixation in Pediatric Patients

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To evaluate surgical outcomes and effectiveness of an autogenic rib graft for upper cervical fixation in pediatric patients. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Autogenic bone grafts have long been considered the ‘gold standard’ bone source for posterior cervical fusion in pediatric patients. However, there are some unsolved problems associated with donor-site morbidity and amount of bone grafting. METHODS: We studied five consecutive pediatric patients who underwent atlantoaxial fixation or occipitocervical fixation (OCF) using an autogenic rib graft with at least 2 years of follow-up (mean age, 9.8 years; mean follow-up period, 73.0 months). Two patients underwent OCF without screw-rod constructs and three patients with screw-rod constructs. Autogenic rib grafts were used in all patients. We evaluated the surgical outcomes including radiographic parameter, bony union, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: The atlantoaxial interval (ADI) was corrected from 11.6 to 6.0 mm, and the C1–2 angle was corrected −14.8° to 7.8°. The C2–7 angle was reduced from 31° to 9° spontaneously. Two patients with OCF required revision surgery due to loss of correction. Patients did not experience any complication associated with the donor sites (rib bone grafts). Six months postoperation X-rays clearly showed regeneration of the rib at the donor sites. Bony fusion was achieved in all patients; however, bony fusion occurred more slowly in patients without screw-rod constructs compared with patients with screw-rod constructs. Bone regeneration of the rib was observed in all patients with no complications at the donor site. CONCLUSIONS: Autogenic rib grafts have advantages of potential bone regeneration, high fusion rate, and low donor-site morbidity. In addition, a screw-rod construct provides better bony fusion in pediatric patients with OCF and atlantoaxial fixation.