Abstract
Ten rheumatoid patients who suffered from occipitocervical pain with or without neurological deficit were surgically treated for subluxations of the cervical spine. Long posterior fusion from the occipit to the lower cervical spine was performed by the use of Luque's segmental spinal instrumentation. The average follow-up period was 19 months, Improvement of occipitocervical pain and neurological signs were obtained in 8 patients However, the other 2 experienced neurological deteriorations and severe neuralgia of the upper extremities afterwards. Consequently, removal of instruments and salvage laminoplasty were necessary. At present, long posterior fusion with Luque's SSI is our first choice for surgical treatment of rheumatoid cervical spondilitis, because of the high incidence of adjacent subluxation after short fusion. However, the longevity with Luque's SSI should be clarified by long-term follow-up studies.
