Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation and displaced ossiculum terminale epiphysiolysis treated with a halo
1Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark. jwalbom@gmail.com.
Introduction:
The horizontal synchondroses of the infant axis are biomechanical weak regions in trauma.
Case:
We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented with delayed atlantoaxial dislocation and displaced ossiculum terminale epiphysiolysis after a fall from a tree.
Treatment:
The patient was treated with halo traction for 3 days after which a CT scan showed normal position of the C1/C2 joint, and an acceptable position of the ossiculum terminale whereafter a halo brace was applied. Because of delayed union on CT scans, the treatment was prolonged to a total of 21 weeks.
Result:
At final follow-up 26 months after halo brace removal, the patient demonstrated normal range of movement of the neck on clinical examination and radiographs of the cervical spine including lateral flexion/extension radiographs showed no sign of instability of the atlantoaxial joint.
Discussion:
Conservative treatment with a halo device versus surgical treatment is discussed.
