Typical and atypical fractures of the odontoid process in young children. Report of two cases and a review of the literature.
The most common injury to the odontoid process in children under the age of seven years is a fracture through the synchondrosis with or without anterior displacement of the odontoid process, but this is not the only type of fracture of the odontoid process in this age-group. Fractures above and below the synchondrosis and fractures with posterior displacement were described. Typical clinical features of these fractures are: (1) major and blunt trauma, (2) neck pain and resistance to active and passive head movements; and (3) no or only slight neurological deficits. Conservative treatment had excellent results in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, there are a few specific indications for surgery.
Schippers
N
N
Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Kalkweg, Duisburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Könings
P
P
Hassler
W
W
Sommer
B
B
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed