A new transodontoid fixation technique for delayed type II odontoid fracture: technical note.
BACKGROUND
A different transodontoid screw fixation technique was studied in delayed type II odontoid fractures. This study presents observations on a different transodontoid fixation technique to remove and decrease the amount of sclerotic layers to accelerate the fusion process after the operation.


METHODS
Ten cases of chronic type II odontoid fractures were operated on via transodontoid screw fixation between 2000 and 2007 which were admitted 6 weeks or later after the trauma. Four of these 10 delayed patients were operated on using a new anterior transodontoid screw fixation technique, whereas the other 6 delayed patients were operated on using classical anterior transodontoid screw fixation.


RESULTS
Four delayed cases with type II odontoid fracture operated on via this new technique had good results throughout the minimum 38 months' follow-up period. We did not observe nonunion, infection, and/or other complications such as vascular or brain-stem injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Transodontoid screw fixation should be considered as a preferable treatment modality. This surgical intervention may be an alternative to conservative treatment even for cases with delayed type II odontoid fractures.
Ozer
A Fahir
AF
Department of Neurosurgery, VKV American Hospital, Istanbul, 34365 Turkey.
Cosar
Murat
M
Oktenoglu
Tunç B
TB
Sasani
Mehdi
M
Iplikcioglu
A Celal
AC
Bozkus
Hakan
H
Bavbek
Cengiz
C
Sarioglu
A Cetin
AC
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed