Posterior stabilization of the cervical spine with hooks and screws. A clinical evaluation of 26 patients with traumatic, degenerative or metastatic lesions, using a new implant system

We operated on 26 patients with cervical spine disorders (13 with traumatic lesions, 3 with spinal stenosis and myelopathy, 1 with osteomyelitis and 9 with metastasis) with posterior stabilization. A new implant system (Cervi -Fix) based on rods, enabling a choice of either screw or laminar hook fixa tion in a free combination, was used. The system was evaluated for ease of use, for safety, regarding complications related to the system, and for eff icacy, regarding loss of correction and signs of instability. The patients were followed for a mean period of II months, with ordinary and flexion/ext ension radiographs and clinical examination. No complications related to th e implant system were observed. Loss of correction was observed in one pati ent. We found constructs with few vertebral fixation points, especially wit h screws, easy to handle, whereas multiple-claw constructs were time consum ing. This implant system seems to be versatile, safe and efficient, but cou ld be improved by the development of instruments for the insertion of the h ooks.