title: Axis fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic fractures of the second cervical vertebra are common, representing nearly 20% of all acute cervical spinal fracture-dislocation injuries. They are divided into 3 distinct injury patterns: odontoid fractures, hangman's fracture injuries, and fractures of the axis body, involving all other fracture injuries to the C2 vertebra.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  An evidence-based overview of the medical and surgical treatment strategies for each axis fracture injury sub-type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current medical and surgical management of traumatic fractures of the axis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3410, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pryputniewicz
authors.forename: Mark N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000592:standards; D001915:Braces / Q000592:standards; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards