A technique for occipitocervical arthrodesis was used in seven patients
whose ages ranged from three to thirteen years. The indication for the
arthrodesis was occipitocervical instability secondary to various forms of
dysplasia. There were no non-unions, and internal fixation was used in only
one patient. Six patients were immobilized postoperatively with halo
fixation. There was only slight limitation of cervical motion after fusion;
we believe that the limitation was due to increased motion in the vertebral
segments caudad to the level of fusion. Six patients had full flexion, and
only three patients had decreased rotation. We found that, in young
patients, occipitocervical arthrodesis by means of the described procedure
was both safe and effective.