文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Graft position versus material in posterior atlantoaxial fusion: establishing a clinical decision hierarchy

作者：Liu, Hua[1,2];Zhang, Tao[1];Li, Songkai[1]

第一作者：Liu, Hua;刘宏;刘卉;刘晖

通信作者：Li, SK[1]

机构：[1]Chinese Peoples Liberat Army, Hosp Joint Logist Support Force 940, Dept Spinal Surg, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, Peoples R China;[2]Gansu Univ Chinese Med, Clin Med Sch 1, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, Peoples R China

第一机构：Chinese Peoples Liberat Army, Hosp Joint Logist Support Force 940, Dept Spinal Surg, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, Peoples R China

通信机构：[1]corresponding author), Chinese Peoples Liberat Army, Hosp Joint Logist Support Force 940, Dept Spinal Surg, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, Peoples R China.

年份：2026

卷号：27

期号：1

外文期刊名：BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

收录：;Scopus(收录号：2-s2.0-105040950535);WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:001784943700002)】；

语种：英文

外文关键词：Atlantoaxial instability; Posterior fusion; Bone graft; Lateral mass joint; Allograft; Autograft

摘要：Background The optimal bone grafting strategy for posterior atlantoaxial fusion remains controversial, with the interplay between graft position (interlaminar vs. intra-articular) and material (allograft vs. autograft) poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate their interactive effects on clinical and radiographic outcomes. Methods In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 52 patients with atlantoaxial instability were categorized into three groups: Group A (n = 18, interlaminar allograft), Group B (n = 19, intra-articular allograft), and Group C (n = 15, intra-articular autograft). Primary outcomes included the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for neck pain, fusion time, and lateral mass joint space height. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare final clinical scores, adjusting for baseline values. Results ANCOVA revealed a significant main effect of group on final JOA (P < 0.001) and NDI (P = 0.003). Both intra-articular groups (B and C) demonstrated significantly better functional outcomes than the interlaminar group (A), with no difference between B and C. VAS improvement was comparable across groups (P = 0.925). Fusion time was shortest in Group C (6.34 +/- 0.97 months) versus both Group A (8.83 +/- 1.76, P < 0.001) and Group B (8.22 +/- 1.27, P = 0.001). Intra-articular allograft achieved greater immediate joint distraction, while autograft better maintained joint height long-term. Conclusions In this retrospective cohort study, our findings identify a clear clinical decision hierarchy for posterior atlantoaxial fusion: graft position is the primary determinant of functional outcomes, with intra-articular grafting associated with superior neurological and functional recovery compared to interlaminar grafting. Within the intra-articular space, a material-specific clinical trade-off exists: autograft facilitates faster fusion and better joint height maintenance, while allograft provides comparable mid-term functional outcomes without harvest-site morbidity. These findings suggest that surgical strategy should prioritize intra-articular graft placement when anatomically feasible, with graft material selection individualized to patient factors and surgical priorities.