Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis

A prospective study of 39 patients with traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis is reported. Classification of the fracture was based on the criteria of White and Punjabi (1978). In previous studies (Effendi et al., 1981; Levine and Edwards, 1985) stability of the undisplaced and slightly displaced fracture was based on flexion/extension radiographs. Union was obtained in all fractures without using a rigid cervical orthosis. We feel that assessing stability dynamically soon after injury when there is marked muscle spasm does not provide an accurate assessment, nor does it not alter the management of these injuries, as shown in this study.