Surgical treatment of odontoid fractures with C1 hook and C2 pedicle screw construct


Published online: Apr 27 2008

Ufuk Aydinli, Gokhan K. Kara, Cagatay Ozturk, Rasim Serifoglu

From the Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey, the Medical Park Hospital, Bursa, Turkey and the Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

A number of approaches have been attempted to address the treatment of acute odontoid fractures, spanning from conservative treatment with an external orthotic device to posterior C1-C2 arthrodesis or anterior screw fixation. The current report describes stabilisation of such fractures with a C1 supralaminar hook and a C2 pars interarticularis screw construct. Two patients with odontoid fracture were treated by this technique. Two-year follow-up of both patients revealed complete union without complications. The authors stress that this technique avoids the hazards of C1 lateral mass screws.