Fractures Of Odontoid Process Research Articles

Anterior atlantoaxial motion preservation fixation technique for axis complex fractures (odontoid process with Hangman’s fractures) and technique notes

This study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of anterior atlantoaxial motion preservation fixation (AMPF) in treating axis complex fractures involving the odontoid process fracture and Hangman’s fractures with C2/3 instability. A retrospective study was conducted on eight patients who underwent AMPF for axis complex fractures at the General Hospital of Central Theater Command from February 2004 to October 2021. The types of axis injuries, reasons for injuries, surgery time, intraoperative blood loss, spinal cord injury classification (American Spinal Injury Association, ASIA), as well as complications and technical notes, were documented. This study included eight cases of type II Hangman’s fracture, five cases of type II and three cases of type III odontoid process fracture. Five patients experienced traffic accidents, while three patients experienced falling injuries. All patients underwent AMPF surgery with an average intraoperative blood loss of 288.75 mL and a duration of 174.5 min. Two patients experienced dysphagia 1 month after surgery. The patients were followed up for an average of 15.63 months. One case improved from C to E in terms of neurological condition, three cases improved from D to E, and four cases remained at E. Bony fusion and Atlantoaxial Motion Preservation were successfully achieved for all eight patients. AMPF is a feasible and effective way for simultaneous odontoid process fracture and Hangman’s fractures with C2/3 instability, while preserving atlantoaxial movement.

Radiological assessment and follow-up of a nonsurgically treated odontoid process fracture after a motor vehicle accident in Egypt: a case report

An odontoid process fracture is a serious type of cervical spine injury. This injury is categorized into three types based on the location of the fracture. Severe or even fatal neurological deficits can occur due to associated cord injury, which can result in complete quadriplegia. Computed tomography is the primary diagnostic tool, while magnetic resonance imaging is used to evaluate any associated cord injuries. These injuries can occur either directly from the injury or during transportation to the hospital if mishandled. There are two main treatment approaches: surgical fixation or external nonsurgical fixation, with various types and models of fixation devices available. In this case study, computed tomography follow-up confirmed that external fixation can yield successful results in terms of complete healing, even in cases complicated by other factors that may impede healing, such as pregnancy.

Outcomes of Odontoid Process Fracture Surgery

Background. Odontoid fractures are found in two age groups. In younger patients, they occur following traffic accidents, falls from a height and during sports. In older patients with poor bone quality, they are usually caused by falls from one’s own height. Most fractures are stable and do not require surgical treatment. Unstable, severely displaced fractures with neurological deficits require surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes of treatment of odontoid fractures with a cannulated screw. Materials and methods. The study enrolled 20 patients that underwent surgery in the years 2020-2022. The patients were divided into two groups: below 60 (group A) and over 60 years of age (group B). Patients were assessed at one day pre-op, one day post-op, 6 weeks following surgery and 3 months following surgery. Imaging studies were performed to assess the angulation and degree of displacement of bone fragments. After the fracture was surgically fixed with a cannulated screw, bone union and the stability of fracture fixation were assessed. Preoperative and postoperative pain intensity as per a VAS, functional status assessed with the NDI questionnaire, quality of life (EQ-VAS) and neurological status (ASIA scale) were compared. Results. Good functional and surgical results were obtained in both groups of patients. Performance and quality of life improved, while pain intensity decreased in all patients. In 3 patients with post-traumatic paresis, the dysfunctions gradually subsided. No general medical or perioperative complications were observed. Bone union of the fracture was achieved in 40% of patients in group B and in 80% in group A. Achieving union did not determine the functional status of patients. On functional radiographs, all places of fixation were stable. Conclusions. 1. Odontoid fracture fixation with a single cannulated screw is a safe method of treatment. It provided a high union rate and good stability of the fracture. 2. Fracture non-union was noted more often in the group of older patients, but it did not negatively impact quality of life and performance.

Woman with agonal breathing.

A 42-year-old healthy woman with cerebral palsy, oriented consciousness, and partial dependence in daily activities at baseline reported gradual decrease in muscle strength in all her limbs for 6 months. The patient became comatose with agonal breathing unexpectedly during the night hours without any warning. Initial clinical presentation showed a very slow respiratory rate of 8 times/min and SpO2 = 92% under non-rebreathing mask covering. Atrial blood gas test revealed hypercapnic respiratory acidosis (pH, 6.9; PCO2 > 200 mmHg). Intubation was performed immediately. Chest radiography showed no active lesions (Figure 1). Her consciousness returned to baseline a few hours after intubation, but she developed quadriplegia. Brain computed tomography showed no obvious lesions. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no obvious lesion but incidentally revealed C2 odontoid process fracture with cord indentation (Figure 2). Cervical MRI showed displaced odontoid process fracture with cord compression, causing myelopathy at C2–C4 levels (Figure 3). It is challenging to diagnose spinal cord injury (SCI) in the absence of trauma history.1 Non-traumatic SCI is a rare neurological emergency.2 There are few case reports of spontaneous atraumatic cervical fracture due to tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis.3, 4 High-level SCI causes impairment of respiratory muscles and reduces vital capacity and chest wall compliance. It also influences the respiratory drive, leading to hypercapnia.5, 6 SCI is an often forgotten but important cause of central nervous system depression in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure in emergency settings. We present a case of atraumatic odontoid fracture, resulting in myelopathy and hypercapnic respiratory failure. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Diagnosis and treatment of the odontoid process fracture of the axis in a dog

Diagnosis and treatment of the odontoid process fracture of the axis in a dog

Classifications of Odontoid Process Fractures: A Systematic Review and Proposal of a New Simplified Classification System Based on Embryology.

Odontoid fractures are the most common cervical spine fractures in the elderly. Although many classification systems have been developed for them, the ambiguity in various definitions can potentially lead to misunderstandings. This paper aims to review the terminologies and current classification systems of odontoid fractures and propose a new, simplified anatomical classification. Given the descriptive variability of odontoid fractures in current classifications, we systematically reviewed the literature using PRISMA guidelines querying the National Library of Medicine PubMed database. The initial literature search yielded 175 publications. A total of seven reports met the inclusion criteria and were ultimately included for a full review. The classification systems previously used to categorize fractures of the odontoid process often need to be more transparent, imprecise, and incongruous. To simplify them, a new embryologically accurate system is proposed. A new embryological and anatomically-based system, combining the former systems' specific attributes, allows a more straightforward and adaptable classification of odontoid fractures.

The internal trabecular bone structure of the odontoid process of the axis. A retrospective single-center comparative study in patients following cervical trauma.

Background Odontoid C2 fractures account for 9% to 15% of adult cervical spine fractures. The aim of this study is to report the incidence of a previous described Y-shaped trabecular bone structure (TBS) in the odontoid process in a larger sample of patients who performed a CT cervical scan following a cervical trauma to investigate if its absence can increase the risk of the odontoid process fracture of the axis. Methods A retrospective review of 245 patients who performed a CT cervical scan in our University Hospital, as results of cervical spine injury, was performed during a 12-month period between May 2020 and May 2021. Results The presence of a Y-shaped TBS at the odontocentral synchondrosis level was observed in 165 patients that is 67.3% of whole population included in this study. Eighteen patients (7.3%) reported an odontoid type II C2 fracture. Among patients with odontoid type II C2 fracture, the Y-shaped TBS at the odontocentral synchondrosis level was observed in 8 (44.4%) of them. The presence of the Y-shaped TBS at the odontocentral synchondrosis level was statistically more frequently observed in patients without odontoid process fracture (69.2% Vs 30.8%) compared to patients who developed odontoid process fracture (44.4 % Vs 55.6%) after a cervical trauma (p = 0.03). Conclusions This study showed the crucial role of this Y-shaped TBS in biomechanical structural dynamics of the C1-C2 joint and its significant clinical relevance in odontoid fractures of the axis.

Characterization of regional variation of bone mineral density in the geriatric human cervical spine by quantitative computed tomography.

Odontoid process fractures are among the most common in elderly cervical spines. Their treatment often requires fixation, which may include use of implants anteriorly or posteriorly. Bone density can significantly affect the outcomes of these procedures. Currently, little is known about bone mineral density (BMD) distributions within cervical spine in elderly. This study documented BMD distribution across various anatomical regions of elderly cervical vertebrae. Twenty-three human cadaveric C1-C5 spine segments (14 males and 9 female, 74±9.3 y.o.) were imaged via quantitative CT-scan. Using an established experimental protocol, the three-dimensional shapes of the vertebrae were reconstructed from CT images and partitioned in bone regions (4 regions for C1, 14 regions for C2 and 12 regions for C3-5). The BMD was calculated from the Hounsfield units via calibration phantom. For each vertebral level, effects of gender and anatomical bone region on BMD distribution were investigated via pertinent statistical tools. Data trends suggested that BMD was higher in female vertebrae when compared to male ones. In C1, the highest BMD was found in the posterior portion of the bone. In C2, BMD at the dens was the highest, followed by lamina and spinous process, and the posterior aspect of the vertebral body. In C3-5, lateral masses, lamina, and spinous processes were characterized by the largest values of BMD, followed by the posterior vertebral body. The higher BMD values characterizing the posterior aspects of vertebrae suggest that, in the elderly, posterior surgical approaches may offer a better fixation quality.

Duration of External Neck Stabilisation (DENS) following odontoid fracture in older or frail adults: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of collar versus no collar

IntroductionFractures of the odontoid process frequently result from low impact falls in frail or older adults. These are increasing in incidence and importance as the population ages. In the UK,...

Residual stability of the craniovertebral segment in its various injuries

Residual stability of craniovertebral segment in the most common injuries (odontoid process fractures, ring fractures of C2, Atlas fractures, etc.) was sudied in experiment. The study was performed in 7 cadaveral craniovertebral blocks. The range of movement before and after injuires modelling, the estimation of force that caused the vertebrae displacement using special loading test device were detected. It was shown that in any injury without vertebrae dislocation craniovertebral segment possessed the residual stability. The minor stability was noted in odontoid prosess fractures of II and III types and butchersfractures, the major stability was in the intervertebral disc injuries of C2-C3 and occipital condyle fractures. On the base of experimental and clinical data the conclusion was done that fixation of cervical spine using head support with frontal fixative or halo apparatus were indicated for cranivertebral segement injuries without vertebrae dislocation. In dislocation of vertebrae it was necessary to reduce the dislocation and open surgical intervention for stabilization.

Anterior screw fixation for type II odontoid process fractures: A single-center experience with the double Herbert screw fixation technique (Retrospective cohort study)

BackgroundIn type II odontoid fractures with intact transverse ligament as classified by the Anderson and D'Alonzo system, anterior screw fixation offers the best anatomical and functional results. The goal of this study is to review the results of the double screw technique in anterior odontoid surgery using a headless 3.0-mm.-diameter cannulated Herbert screw on patients with odontoid process fractures. MethodsFrom January 2015 through March 2019, 12 cases of acute traumatic type II odontoid fractures were treated with double anterior screw fixation using 3.0-mm Herbert screws, slightly smaller than the standard size for Caucasian populations. The data collected included radiographic measurements, postoperative complications, union rate and clinical outcomes in follow-up examinations over an average of 24-months. ResultsThe age of the 12 patients, 8 males and 4 females, ranged from 17 to 68 years (mean, 38.42 ± 20.14). The fracture type was type IIa in 4 patients (33.33%) and type IIb in 8 patients (66.67%). The period of follow-up was 15–64 months (mean, 31.42 ± 17.37). All the patients had good clinical results after surgery with no postoperative complications. Eleven cases (92%) had achieved bone union with 1 case (8%) of nonunion. In the nonunion case, the patient was a chronic smoker who continued smoking both during treatment and follow-up. ConclusionsThis series of satisfactory clinical results demonstrates that double anterior screw fixation of type II odontoid process fractures using 3.0-mm screws is highly effective in the Thai population. Headless cannulated cancellous screws provide significant biomechanical strength which is not inferior to the traditional screws

Densfraktur nach Hochrasanztrauma

Densfrakturen sind häufige Verletzungen der Halswirbelsäule und kommen meist in höherem Lebensalter vor; hierbei sind diese oft durch Bagatelltraumata bedingt. Bei jüngeren Patienten werden diese v. a. im Rahmen von Hochrasanztraumata beobachtet. Klassifiziert werden die Densfrakturen nach Anderson und D’Alonzo. Selten kommt es durch die Fraktur zu einer zervikalen Myelopathie, die lebensbedrohlich sein kann.In diesem Artikel werden zwei Fälle von Patienten mit Densfrakturen mit traumatischer Myelopathie dargestellt. Beim ersten Fall handelt es sich um eine Typ-III-Fraktur, beim anderen Fall um eine Typ-II-Fraktur. In beiden Fällen wurde die vorliegende Instabilität aufgrund der anatomischen Stellung in der initialen Computertomographie (CT) falsch eingeschätzt. Im weiteren Verlauf zeigte sich in beiden Fällen eine erhebliche Instabilität, aufgrund deren es zu fatalen Myelonverletzungen gekommen war.In diesem „case report“ soll auf das mögliche Vorliegen von Myelonverletzungen bei vermeintlich trivialen Densfrakturen bei stattgehabten Hochrasanztraumata aufmerksam gemacht werden. Insbesondere bei reanimationspflichtigen Patienten ohne internistische Ursache muss an eine Myelonkompression gedacht werden. Sollte der Patient bei Vorliegen einer knöchernen Verletzung im CT z. B. durch eine Intubation klinisch nicht ausreichend beurteilbar sein, muss die Indikation zur Magnetresonanztomographie großzügig gestellt werden. Nur durch diese wird einem die frühzeitige Erkennung einer Myelopathie und die rechtzeitige Therapie ermöglicht.

Percutaneous Screw Fixation and Cementoplasty to Stabilize Unstable Osteolytic Fracture of Odontoid Process: a Case Report

Percutaneous Screw Fixation and Cementoplasty to Stabilize Unstable Osteolytic Fracture of Odontoid Process: a Case Report

Determination and optimization of ideal patient candidacy for anterior odontoid screw fixation.

Background: Odontoid process fractures are one of the most common spine fractures, especially in patients over age 70. There is still much controversy over the ideal candidate for anterior odontoid screw fixation (AOSF), with outcomes affected by characteristics such as fracture morphology, nonideal body habitus, and osteoporosis. Therefore, this systematic review seeks to discuss the optimal criteria, indications, and adverse postoperative considerations when deciding to pursue AOSF.Methods: This investigation was conducted from experiential recall and article selection performed using the PubMed electronic bibliographic databases. The search yielded 124 articles that were assessed and filtered for relevance. Following the screening of titles and abstracts, 48 articles were deemed significant for final selection.Results: AOSF is often utilized to treat Type IIB odontoid fractures, which has been shown to preserve atlantoaxial motion, limit soft-tissue injuries/blood loss/vertebral artery injury/reduce operative time, provide adequate osteosynthesis, incur immediate spinal stabilization, and allow motion preservation of C1 and C2. However, this technique is limited by patient characteristics such as fracture morphology, transverse ligament rupture, remote injuries, short neck or inability to extend neck, barrel chested, and severe spinal kyphosis, in addition to adverse postoperative outcomes such as dysphagia and vocal cord paralysis.Conclusion: Due to the fact that odontoid fractures have a significant morbidity in elderly population, treatment with AOSF is generally recommended for this population with higher risk for nonoperative fusion. Considerations should be made to achieve fracture stability and fusion, while lowering the risk for operative and postoperative complications.

Does fracture-extension into the pars interarticularis alter outcomes in odontoid failure? a technical note on pars interarticularis osteotomy and atlantoaxial distraction arthrodesis.

Odontoid process fractures can extend rostral into the C2 arch. We investigated the clinical impact of a concurrent fracture of the pars interarticularis on odontoid failure. To overcome the surgical challenges related to the morphology of these fractures, we describe a novel surgical strategy using atlantoaxial joint distraction arthrodesis. We conducted a single centre cohort study of 13 consecutive patients with odontoid fractures extending into the pars treated between June 2016 and June 2018. Criteria for a stable fibrous non-union were: Atlanto-Dens Interval (ADI) < 3mm, Posterior Atlanto-Dens Interval (PADI) > 14mm and lack of symptomatic motion at the fracture site. Atlantoaxial instability was defined as greater than 50% subluxation across the C1-C2 joint. Return to pre-injury performance status was considered a satisfactory clinical outcome. The mean age of the patient population was 77.2years (SD 11.9). The mean follow-up time was 15months (SD 5.2). 69% had an associated atlantoaxial instability (P-value 0.0005). Cervical orthosis treatment was associated with a high non-union rate (70%) (P-value 0.04) although it did not affect the overall clinical outcome. 2 cases presented with cord compression were treated surgically with pars interarticularis osteotomy and atlantoaxial distraction arthrodesis. Odontoid fracture with extension into the pars interarticularis often present with atlantoaxial instability and may result in stable fibrous non-union if treated non-operatively. The C1-C2 segment can be stabilised with atlantoaxial distraction arthrodesis achieved through an osteotomy of the pars interarticularis.

Identifying factors influencing mortality in patients aged over 65 following an acute type II odontoid process fracture. A retrospective cohort study.

Compare short-term mortality rates following operative and nonoperative management of geriatric patients following an acute type II odontoid process fracture. One hundred forty-one patients with a type II odontoid fracture were identified from a single centre between 2002 and 2018. Patient demographics, details of injury and management, plus mortality data were collected. The incidence of mortality at 3 and 12months was calculated, and a multivariate model built which included the treatment modality variable and allowed adjustment for six individual confounders. Of the 141 patients with a type II odontoid process fracture, 39 were managed operatively, while 102 were managed nonoperatively. Relative to the nonoperative group, the operative group was younger (79.0 ± 7.0 vs. 83.7 ± 7.6), more likely to haveodontoid angulation > 15° (74.4% vs. 43.1%, p < 0.01), and a greater proportion having fracture displacement > 2mm (74.4% vs. 31.4%, p < 0.01). Both groups were comparable for gender, comorbidities, and associated injuries. On univariate analysis of treatment modality, the odds ratio of 3-month mortality with nonoperative management was 2.55 (95% CI: 0.82-7.92; p = 0.08), whilst at 12-months it was 3.12 (95% CI: 1.11-8.69; p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis of 12-month mortality, however, treatment modality was not found to be significant. This multivariate analysis suggested that increasing age, male gender, and injury severity were significant predictors of 12-month mortality. In contrast to the findings of a number of previous studies, operative management may not influence survival at 3- and 12-months.

Features and clinical significance of the ossification centres in the odontoid process based on micro-computed tomography.

Microscopic structures of the ossification centres of the odontoid process were studied from the micro-computed tomography (CT) images of the axis, and the potential influence of the ossification centres with different microscopic structures on odontoid process fractures was analysed. Eighteen odontoid process specimens were randomly collected and scanned by micro-CT. The obtained images were then input into the software for further observation and measurement. Incomplete absorption of the ossification centres in the base was observed, along with the anatomic structure of the regions with incomplete ossification and structural parameters of the trabecular bones. The microscopic structures of the trabecular bones in the ossification centres in the base of the odontoid process could be clearly visualised from the micro-CT images. Among the 18 odontoid process specimens, 11 specimens were found with incomplete absorption of the ossification centres in the axis, the prevalence reaching up to 61%. Regions with incomplete ossification varied in size and morphology, and their three-dimensional morphology was predominantly oval. Of all structural parameters examined for the trabecular bones, there were only significant differences in the degree of anisotropy between the regions with incomplete absorption of ossification centres and the average vertebral trabecular bones (p < 0.05). Incomplete absorption of the ossification centres in the base of the odontoid process is a relatively prevalent condition. The cavitation effect of the trabecular bones may be the primary cause for odontoid process fractures.

A Technique for the In Vivo Study of Three-dimensional Cervical Segmental Motion Characteristics After Anterior Screw Fixation for Odontoid Process Fractures.

Kinematics of the cervical spine was investigated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images combined with three dimensions to three dimensions (3D-3D) registration technology in patients after anterior odontoid screw fixation (AOSF) surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo 3D cervical motion characteristics of patients who had undergone AOSF surgeries. AOSF surgery is a classic surgical method for the treatment of odontoid fracture, but there are few studies that investigated its effect on in vivo biomechanics of the cervical spine. Postoperative biomechanical characters of the atlantoaxial joint (C1-C2) and the caudal adjacent segment (C2-C3) have yet to be clarified. The study involved 14 patients subjected to a procedure of AOSF with lag screw. Subjects were matched with 14 healthy controls. All subjects underwent CBCT scanning of the cervical spine under seven functional positions. A 3D-3D registration was performed for each vertebra at each functional position to calculate the segmental motion characteristics. The ranges of motion (ROMs) of the C1-C2, C2-C3, and the overall cervical spine (C1-C7) for each of the functional positions were determined. The ROMs of the AOSF group were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than the control group in flexion-extension positions for the C1-C2 (7.0°vs.11.0°), C2-C3 (3.7°vs.6.7°) and C1-C7 (43.3°vs.54.4°). The twisting ROM of the C1-C2 was 39.3° in the AOSF group and 65.7° in the control (P < 0.05), the bending ROM of the C2-C3 was 2.8° in the AOSF group and 8.9° in the control (P < 0.05). The twisting ROM of C1-C7 segment was 63.2° for the AOSF and 98.1° for the healthy control groups (P < 0.05). Although AOSF surgery reduced the flexion-extension ROMs of all investigated spinal segments, additionally, it reduced twisting ROMs of C1-C2 and C1-C7, but only lateral bending ROM of C2-C3, when compared with the control group. The data implied that the AOSF surgery would result in different biomechanics changes in the atlantoaxial segment and caudal adjacent segment. Longer-term follow-up studies of larger patient cohorts are necessary to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients after the AOSF surgery.Level of Evidence: 3.

One-year follow-up for type II odontoid process fractures in octogenarians: Is there a place for surgical management?

Background: Type II odontoid fractures are becoming one of the most common injuries among elderly patients and are associated with increased morbidity rates. Here, we compared the safety/efficacy of conservative versus surgical treatment for type II C2 fractures and, in particular, evaluated the complications, hospital lengths of stay, and mortality rates for patients over 80 years of age.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 63 nonsurgically versus 18 surgically treated C2 fractures in patients over 80 years of age (2003–2018). Cervical computed tomography images, X-rays, and magnetic resonance images were reviewed by both a neurosurgeon and a neuroradiologist. The following patient data were included in the analysis; Glasgow Coma Scale score, injury severity score, the abbreviated injury scale scores, their comorbidities (e.g., utilizing the Charlson comorbidity index), their primary outcomes, and mortality rates (e.g., at 6 weeks and 1 year after treatment).Results: Eighty-one patients were included in the study; 63 were treated conservatively and 18 underwent surgical management of type II C2 fractures. Patients averaged 87.0 ± 5.0 years of age, and their combined mortality rates were 13.6% at 6 weeks and 25.9% at 1 year. Notably, at 1 year, the mortality rates were not statistically different between the two groups: 18 (30.0%) patients from the conservatively treated group versus 3 (16.7%) patients from the surgically managed patients died indicating (e.g., using the Kaplan–Meier analysis) no survival advantage for either treatment strategy.Conclusion: Surgical versus conservative management of type II odontoid fractures were associated with comparable high mortality rates at 1 year.

Management of Type – II Odontoid Process Fracture by Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation (AOSF) in Young Adults: Case Series

odontoid fracture AOSF with lag screw is the reference technique in unstable fracture. Various other treatment modalities have been described in the literature; however author finds the ASOF technique to be reasonable with less intraoperative and post-operative complications. Moreover the rate of bony fusion is also high and post-operative mobilization in case of ASOF.&#x0D; Material and Methods: This is prospective observational case series. Two cases of odontoid fractures (type II) are reported.&#x0D; Results and Conclusion: Our cases illustrated that odontoid fracture type II can successfully be managed with AOSF with good post-operative outcome. Union rate of this fracture is high with lag screw fixation (AOSF technique). Nevertheless, due to a limited number of cases author would also like to add that outcome could be better assessed in a larger group of study.