Safe trajectory for an occipital condyle screw: A computer simulation study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of posterior occipital condyle screw (OCS) placement analysis of the safe trajectory area for screw insertion. Methods: Computed tomographic angiography scans of patients (46 males and 27 females) with normal occipitocervical structures were obtained consecutively. Vertebral artery (VA)-occiput distance 0.05). The screw range of motion was significantly smaller in females than in males ( p 5°) than in the other two groups ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: OCS placement is a feasible technique for occipital-cervical fusion. The male group and occipitocervical region kyphosis group had a wider available space for OCS placement. Tangent angulation may be useful for the accurate and safe placement of an OCS.