A new transodontoid fixation technique for delayed type II odontoid fracture: technical note
A Fahir Ozer1, Murat Cosar, Tunç B Oktenoglu
1Department of Neurosurgery, VKV American Hospital, Istanbul, 34365 Turkey.
Background:
A different transodontoid screw fixation technique was studied in delayed type II odontoid fractures. This study presents observations on a different transodontoid fixation technique to remove and decrease the amount of sclerotic layers to accelerate the fusion process after the operation.
Methods:
Ten cases of chronic type II odontoid fractures were operated on via transodontoid screw fixation between 2000 and 2007 which were admitted 6 weeks or later after the trauma. Four of these 10 delayed patients were operated on using a new anterior transodontoid screw fixation technique, whereas the other 6 delayed patients were operated on using classical anterior transodontoid screw fixation.
Results:
Four delayed cases with type II odontoid fracture operated on via this new technique had good results throughout the minimum 38 months' follow-up period. We did not observe nonunion, infection, and/or other complications such as vascular or brain-stem injury.
Conclusion:
Transodontoid screw fixation should be considered as a preferable treatment modality. This surgical intervention may be an alternative to conservative treatment even for cases with delayed type II odontoid fractures.
