title: Subdental synchondrosis fracture in children: the value of 3-dimensional computerized tomography.
abstract: A case is presented illustrating the usefulness of computerized tomography (CT) with 3-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction for evaluation of a subdental synchondrosis fracture in a child. Odontoid fractures in children less than 7 years of age occur at the subdental synchondrosis and are typically diagnosed with plain x-rays. However, a delay in diagnosis is common as these injuries may not be appreciated on initial roentgenographic evaluation. The authors present a case of a 2-year-old boy with a subdental synchondrosis fracture secondary to trauma. In this patient, plain x-ray and conventional axial CT failed to definitively elucidate the child's injuries; however, the use of CT with 3-D reconstruction fully delineated the injury. The use of CT with 3-D reconstruction in evaluating children with subdental synchondrosis fractures is a valuable tool for diagnosis. The treatment of synchondrosis fractures of the odontoid process in children is immobilization of the cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, Mo., USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Sherburn
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*