Atlantoaxial Fixation for Odontoid Fracture: Analysis of 124 Surgically Treated Cases

The authors analyze 124 cases with fracture of odontoid process. All patients were surgically treated by posterior atlantoaxial fixation.

There were 96 male and 28 female patients. The ages of the patients ranged from 12 to 80 years. Apart from Anderson and D'Alonzo type I (6 cases), type II (93 cases) and type III (25 cases), three sub-types of odontoid fractures were included in the classification. In type A (118 cases), there was vertical compression fracture that resulted in malalignment of the fractured odontoid process segments. Type B (49 cases) resulted when the fracture resulted in malalignment of the facets of atlas and axis. Type C (25 cases) included cases in which the fracture line involved the facet of axis. Fractures were divided into acute type when the injury was less than 3 months old (50 cases), delayed type when the injury was between 3 months to one year (34 cases) and chronic type when the injury was more than 1 year in duration (40 cases). All patients were treated with posterior atlantoaxial fixation with the techniques described in 1994 and 2004. Follow-up period ranged from 6 to 156 months (average 72 months).

All patients improved in symptoms after surgery. There were no significant postoperative complications.

Posterior atlantoaxial stabilization forms a safe surgical strategy for all kinds of odontoid fractures. Additional characteristics of odontoid fractures further subclassified them and assisted in surgical decision-making and in formulating the surgical strategy.