Occipitocervical fusion

Abstract

Cranial-cervical instability can result from systemic disease or from traumatic injuries and can be accompanied by severe neurological morbidity and pain; it may even result in death when untreated. The surgical management of cranial-cervical instability can be challenging given the complex regional anatomy and biomechanical considerations. In this chapter, we review the most common causes for cranial-cervical instability requiring treatment and describe the current surgical management of cranial-cervical instability.