Objective: To research the correlation between surgical treatment for atlantoaxial dislocation and dredging Governor vessel.
Methods: From June 2004 to June 2010,113 patients were reviewed, including 65 males and 48 females, with the mean age of 42.6 years (ranged, 8 to 64 years). All the patients were classified and treated by TOI clinical classification which included traction and decompression and reduction, and inter fixation fusion by surgery. The SAC (space available for the cord), Governor vessel Yuzu score, JOA score, NDI score (cervical spine dysfunction index) before treatment were compared with those of after treatment.
Results: The SAC in each group before treatment were (13.34 +/- 3.21), (10.43 +/- 2.42), (7.89 +/- 3.14), (10.50 +/- 0.71) mm respectively, the last follow-up of (16.02 +/- 1.42), (15.34 +/- 1.87), (14.49 +/- 1.58), (12.50 +/- 0.71) mm; Governor vessel Yuzu score before treatment were (8.37 +/- 1.87), (6.87 +/- 1.35), (5.17 +/- 1.13), (7.50 +/- 0.71) respectively, the last follow-up of (10.59 +/- 0.94), (10.25 +/- 1.01), (8.41 +/- 1.31), (9.0 +/- 0); JOA, NDI score significantly improved compared with that of before treatment.
Conclusion: Atlantoaxial dislocation confirmed and treated by TOI clinical classification can effectively relieve the nerve function and Governor vessel Yuzu syndrome, and show that surgical treatment is closely related with dredging the Governor vessel.