Several conditions that lead to instability of the cervical spine
require surgical fixation, and on occasion that procedure may include the
use of methylmethacrylate. In the series that we are reporting, there were
eighteen patients with malignant disease, seventeen with fractures, twelve
with rheumatoid arthritis, and five with osteoarthritis. In the survivors,
a four-year follow-up showed excellent relief of instability and no
complications attributable to the methacrylate except for one fracture of
the methacrylate that did not produce symptoms.