title: Accident-induced late complaint of odontoid nonunion.
abstract: METHODS
  A case of accident-induced late complaint of odontoid nonunion is reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a rare case of accident-induced late complaint of odontoid nonunion and to discuss operative techniques of stabilization.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The literature is reviewed. METHODS.: A 60-year-old man sustained a neck injury with incomplete transverse lesion after a traffic accident. A loosening of odontoid nonunion with displacement 40 years after primary trauma was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical treatment of the odontoid nonunion was undertaken to perform anterior screw fixation and additional posterior C1-C2 arthrodesis according to Gallie or Brooks. The patient wore a cervical brace for 6 weeks and underwent physiotherapy. Neurologic deficit decreased after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first reported case of accident-induced loosening of odontoid nonunion. Anterior screw fixation and posterior C1-C2 arthrodesis achieved stable fixation.
authors.affiliation: University of Graz, Medical School, Department of Traumatology, Graz, Austria. christian.boldin@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boldin
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grechenig
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fankhauser
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001863:Bone Screws; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013995:Time; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed