Open AccessVascularized Occipital Bone Grafting: Indications, Techniques, Clinical Outcomes, and Alternatives
Author(s) -
Sebastian Winocour,
Erica Y. Xue,
Michael A. Bohl,
Farrokh Farrokhi,
Matthew J. Davis,
Amjed AbuGhname,
Alexander E. Ropper,
Edward M. Reece
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
seminars in plastic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1536-0067
pISSN - 1535-2188
DOI - 10.1055/s-0041-1723834
Subject(s) - medicine , nonunion , arthrodesis , cervical spine , bone grafting , fixation (population genetics) , surgery , occipital nerve stimulation , bony fusion , spinal fusion , cervical vertebrae , radiography , population , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology
Successful arthrodesis at the craniocervical junction and atlantoaxial joint can be more challenging than in other segments of the cervical spine. Different techniques for spinal fixation in this region have been well described, along with auxiliary methods to improve fusion rates. The occipital vascularized bone graft is a novel technique that can be used to augment bony arthrodesis in the supra-axial cervical spine. It provides the benefits of a vascularized autologous graft, such as accelerated healing, earlier fusion, and increased strength. This technique can be learned with relative ease and may be particularly helpful in cases with high risk of nonunion or pseudoarthrosis in the upper cervical spine.