title: Management of type II odontoid process fractures in geriatric patients; a prospective study of sequential cohorts with attention to survivorship.
abstract: After institutional review defined an unacceptable mortality rate in nonoperative treatment of elderly patients with odontoid process fracture without neurological deficit, we undertook a prospective study to determine the influence of early surgical stabilization on perioperative mortality in geriatric odontoid process fracture patients without neurologic injury. Analysis suggests that acute perifracture mortality in this high-risk group can be significantly decreased and potentially eliminated by this approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bednar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012138:Respiratory Therapy; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome