Clinical Review of the Isolated Acute Axis Fracture

ABSTRACT

A series of 26 patients of acute axis fractures were treated at the Wonkwang Medical Center, Wonkwang University between January, 1988 and December, 1992. The medical records and roentgenograms of these 26 patients were reviewed in detail. Follow-up data were available for all of the cases. for a median duration of 25.6 months(range 3 months to 5years). There were 8 hangman's fractures(31%), 10 odontoid type II fractures(38%), 6 odontoid type III fractures(23%), 2 miscellanous fractures(8%). The odontoid type II fracture was the most common axis fracture and the most common cause of injury was motor-vehicle accident followed by fall, Hangman's fracture, odontoid type II, miscellanous fracture were effectively treated with external stabilization. In the 10 odontoid type II fractures, 7 patients were treated by external stabilization and 3 were by early surgical stabilization. Among the external stabilization group, the fusion failure occured 2 of the displacement of 4mm or greater in the initial treatment.