Each ICL360 is a cutting-edge CME course designed to provide a holistic learning experience, featuring curated video content sourced from expert-selected Instructional Course Lectures enhanced with insightful commentary and comprehensive assessment questions. This all-encompassing course goes beyond traditional learning by offering a complete 360° perspective on orthopedic topics. Explore additional resources, including full-text readings from the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), technique videos from Orthopaedic Video Theater (OVT), and links to external literature and PubMed. Elevate your clinical decision-making skills and gain a well-rounded understanding of essential orthopedic concepts with ICL360.
This Instructional Course Lecture (ICL) focuses on advanced C1-C2 posterior screw-rod fixation techniques, particularly the Harms and Goel methods, which are pivotal for experienced orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in cervical spine surgery.
Editor
Gregory Lopez, MD
Learning Objectives
Describe the surgical steps and procedural nuances of C1-C2 posterior screw-rod fixation via the Harms technique, with an emphasis on the placement and orientation of polyaxial screws and rods.
Compare and contrast various atlantoaxial stabilization techniques, including sublaminar wiring, bone grafting, and trans-articular screw fixation, discussing biomechanical stability, indications, and contraindications associated with each technique based on recent advancements.
Evaluate the complications associated with C1-C2 fixation methods, focusing on vertebral artery injuries, and discuss strategies to mitigate these risks intraoperatively.
Apply knowledge of spinal anatomy and biomechanics to develop tailored surgical plans for patients with atlantoaxial instability, incorporating preoperative imaging studies and anatomic variations into decision making.
Use preoperative and postoperative imaging modalities, such as CT angiography and MRI, to assess surgical outcomes and plan for potential revision surgery.
Integrate modern surgical tools and techniques, such as robotics and image guidance, to enhance precision and safety in spinal surgery.
Assess the effect of various C1-C2 fixation techniques on patient outcomes, including pain relief and mobility restoration, using validated outcome measures, such as the Neck Disability Index and the visual analog scale.
Formulate comprehensive postoperative treatment plans that address potential complications and optimize patient recovery and rehabilitation after atlantoaxial stabilization.
Earn up to 5 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits™.