Occipitocervical Fusion

In this surgery the skull is fused to the neck so as to abolish the movements at head and neck junction. It is required in patients suffering from.

• Atlantoaxial dislocation
• Atlantoaxial instability due to odontoid fracture, os odontoideum, rheumatoid arthritis
• Basilar invagination

For fusion plates and screws are placed in occiput bone and it is fixed to screws in C1 and C2 vertebrae with rods. Decompression of the cervical cord is done to relieve the pinched nerves and cord, if required.