Fractures of the odontoid process: 10 cases

The fractures of the odontoid process was exceptional, this complications was dramatic. In this retrospective study was about ten cases of fractures of odontoid process, collected at the department of neuro surgery between 1992-1998. The mean age of our patients was 27.4 years old, all patients are males. The highway accident was the most frequent etiology [90%]. The delay of consultation was were 3 days in 40% of the cases. The radiology study shows the existence of 9 cases of fractures type Ill and one case of fracture type according to ANDERSON and ALLONZO classification. The treatment was still orthopaedic in the majority of the cases, the surgery was indicated in the orthopaedic failures or in the primitively instable fracture. The evolution was characterised by the pseudarthrose complications in two patients and two cases was death

management of craniocerebral wounds about 73 cases

Our study was about 73 cases of craniocerebral wounds treated at the department of Neurosurgery in the UHC lbn Roshd in Casablanca. The mean age of our patients was 21 years old, with male predominance [87.7%]. 57.5% of these traumatisms were caused by aggression, 17,8% by road trafic accidents and 16.4% by falls. The neurological examination showed a normal consciousness in 80% of the cases, vigilance disorders in 20% of the cases, and signs of localizations in 23% of the cases. The radiography of the skull showed that the osseous damages [depressed fracture of the skull-pressed fracture of the skull were frequent in the parietal region [31%]. The computed tomography scan, achieved in all cases, was very useful in the detection of associated intracranial lesions. The management consists of a medical treatment and surgical intervention based on craniectomy and restoration of the dural plane. The craniocerebral wounds are rare but may have serious complications mainly infection and epilepsy