Turkish Neurosurgery 2006 , Vol 16 , Num 2
Odontoid Fractures
Sait NADERİ1, Özgür AKŞAN2, Feridun ACAR3, Tansu MERTOL2, Nuri ARDA2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University, İstanbul, Turkey
2Department of Neurosurgery, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey
3Department of Neurosurgery, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
OBJECTIVE: Odontoid fractures make up 10-15% of all cervical fractures. Odontoid process fracture and ligament injury can end up with antero- and posterolisthesis at C1-2 complex, subluxation and spinal cord compression.

METHODS: In this study, 12 cases with odontoid fractures treated at our department were evaluated. The radiological investigations revealed no type I fracture, nine type II fractures and three type III fractures. Eight cases were operated and three cases were treated conservatively. Complete fusion was achieved with no complications in all cases.

CONCLUSION: Until the last decade, odontoid fractures were feared because of high morbidity and dramatic radiological and clinical findings. However, they have now become a curable, benign traumatic lesions thanks to developments in spinal surgery. Keywords : Fusion, Odontoid fracture, Surgery

Corresponding author : Sait Naderi, saitnaderi@yahoo.com