{"id":"c613c5fa-5a9a-4ba8-b1ec-1c71ca9f2fe8","slug":"safety-and-efficacy-of-lateral-mass-screws-at-c7-in-the-treatment-of-cervical-degenerative-disease","title":"Safety and efficacy of lateral mass screws at C7 in the treatment of cervical degenerative disease","authors":["Chengmin Zhang","Qiang Zhou","Paul M. Arnold"],"abstract":"Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of lateral mass screws at C7 in the treatment of cervical degenerative disease. Methods: Patients with cervical degenerative disease who underwent posterior cervical fusion and fixation from 2009 to 2015 were included in the study. All complications were captured. Postoperative X-ray and computed tomography (CT) confirmed fusion at 6 and 12 months after surgery. X-ray and CT confirmed screw loosening, misplacement, pull-out, breakage, or rod breakage. Results: Seventy-two patients underwent cervical laminectomy and fixation with lateral mass screws at C7 and had at least 1 year follow-up. One patient had C3 screw pull-out; revision was not required. There were no complications related to the C7 screws, and all were in the lateral mass. Conclusions: Lateral mass screws are as safe and effective as pedicle screws at C7 in long-segment posterior cervical fixation, have a lower rate of perioperative complications than pedicle screws, and are technically easier to place.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/c613c5fa-5a9a-4ba8-b1ec-1c71ca9f2fe8/featured/hero-1782420898181.png","publishDate":"2017-09-07T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/sni.sni_6_17","categories":["Spine","Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"http://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/8592/SNI-8-218.pdf"}