OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the short-term results of unstable traumatic injuries in the cervical subaxial region treated with posterior fixation by Magerl technique, using polyaxial screws and rods in the lateral masses. METHODS: We performed a review of patients with unstable subaxial cervical traumatic injury and involvement of the posterior tension band (AO type B.1) who underwent surgery with posterior fixation with polyaxial screws and rods in the lateral masses according to the Magerl technique using selection criteria based on anatomy, diagnostic images, and ethics. In the follow-up period, the radiological, functional, and neurological outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: We included 9 patients (8 men, 1 woman) with an average age of 25 years (range 21 - 34) and a mean follow-up of 20 months (range 12 - 24). The radiologicalas well as the neurological and functional findings were excellent in all cases, without deviation or displacement in anteroposterior kyphosis, and with no symptoms during the follow-up period. The two cases treated with fixation of three vertebrae had some sporadic cervical stiffness. In no case were the implants removed. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits obtained suggest that the technique is useful, safe, efficient and versatile for unstable traumatic injuries of the lower cervical spine type B.1, even in multisegmental lesions, especially in young patients.
Cervical vertebrae; Spine; Spinal fractures; Fractures fixation
