Basilar Impression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Features, Operative Strategies and Outcomes

Objective Basilar Impression (BI) is a rare yet debilitating abnormality of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ), known to cause life-threatening medullary brainstem compression. Our study analyzes surgical approaches for BI and related outcomes. Methods A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science electronic databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to critically assess primary articles examining BI. Results We analyzed 87 patients from 65 articles, mostly female (55.17%) with a mean age of 46.31 ± 17.94 years, commonly presenting with motor (59.77%) and sensory deficits (55.17%). Commonly employed procedures included posterior occipitocervical fusion (24.14%), anterior decompression (20.69%), and combined anterior decompression with posterior fusion (21.84%). Patients who underwent anterior approaches were found to be older (55.38 ± 17.67 vs. 45.49 ± 18.78 years, p < 0.05) and had a longer duration from symptom onset to surgery (57.39 ± 64.33 vs. 26.02 ± 29.60 months, p < 0.05) compared to posterior approaches. Our analysis revealed a significant association between a longer duration from symptom onset to surgery and an increased likelihood of undergoing odontoidectomy and decompression (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, p < 0.05). Furthermore, after adjusting for all other covariates, a history of rheumatoid arthritis and the use of a posterior approach were significantly associated with an elevated risk of postoperative complications (p < 0.05). Conclusions The treatment approach to complex CVJ disease should be tailored to the surgeon’s experience and the nature of the compressive pathology.