Lateral Mass Screw Fixation

Abstract

Traditional methods of posterior fixation of the cervical spine date back to the late 1800s and included various wiring techniques between the spinous processes. Nearly a century later, Roy-Camille described the use of lateral mass screws which is now well accepted by surgeons. Potential complications of this technique include injury to adjacent nerve roots, vertebral artery compromise, facet joint violation, and screw fixation failure. Numerous modifications including the Magerl, the Anderson, and the An technique use entry points and drilling trajectories to avoid these complications and achieve solid bony fixation. As a result, lateral mass screw fixation is a safe and reliable method of posterior fixation in the subaxial cervical spine.