Surgical management of acute odontoid fractures

Abstract

The annual incidence of open fixation of odontoid fractures was 0.45 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the incidence increased with age. The median age at time of surgery was 73.0 years, and the surgical mortality was 4%. Increased odds of nonbony fusion were observed in more displaced fractures and after anterior screw fixations. There were no significant differences between patients treated with anterior screw fixation versus posterior wiring with respect to neck pain, but patients fused with a posterior approach reported significantly more neck stiffness.