[Extension tear-drop fracture of the axis: a surgically treated case]

Tear-drop fracture of the axis is an exceptional spinal fracture which generally occurs after high-energy trauma with hyper-extension of the cervical spine. Purely anterior fracture can occur with no real impact on stability. Orthopedic treatment provides good results in this situation. If the fracture is posterior, it continues into the C2-C3 intervertebral disc and the common posterior vertebral ligament, leading to C2C3 instability and possible retrolisthesis of C2 over C3 and neurological involvement. We report a case of tear-drop fracture of C2 with C3 instability without neurological involvement. This patient underwent posterior fixation with C2C3 arthrodesis which provided good quality bone fusion without secondary displacement or clinical aggravation.