Application and early clinical efficacy of three-dimensional printed nail guide in atlantoaxial internal fixation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the application and early clinical efficacy of three-dimensional printed nail guide in atlantoaxial internal fixation. Methods A total of 48 patients with axillary internal fixation assisted by three-dimensional printed nail guides from May 2016 to July 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected, including 30 cases of atlantoaxial dislocation, 17 cases of atlantoaxial dislocation with odontoid fracture, 1 case of reconstruction of the left vertebral artery rupture in a conventional posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation. The postoperative follow-up period was 15 to 40 months, and the effect was analyzed. Results A total of 192 screws were placed in 48 patients, of them 190 cases in grade 0 (C1 94 screws in C2 96 screws), accounting for 98.96%, 2 cases in grade I (C1), accounting for 1.04%, and 0 case in grade Ⅱ. The acceptance rate was 100%, no nerve or vertebral artery injury occured during operation. The 17 patients with odontoid fractures all healed after operation, and the efficacy evaluation indicators at the last follow-up were improved compared with those before surgery (P<0.05). Conclusions The three-dimensional printing navigation template for atlantoaxial internal fixation can assist in the placement of nails, and the placement of nails is more accurate, and the nerve and blood vessel damage during surgery is reduced. Key words: Three-dimensional printing; Navigation template; Atlantoaxial; Internal fixation