title: Temporary occipito-cervical stabilization of a unilateral occipital condyle fracture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injuries of the occipital condyles are rare. While the majority of occipital condyle fractures can be treated conservatively, surgery is recommended in craniocervical misalignment and instability. Open reduction and temporary occipito-cervical stabilization might be an alternative to fusion or halo treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This Grand Round case presentation describes temporary C0-C3 stabilization in a 29-year-old man who was involved in a car accident. Radiological examination revealed a rotational burst fracture (type AO C3.1) of C7, and a slight displaced right occipital condyle fracture (Anderson/Montesano type III) with rotational misalignment of the C0-C2 complex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The C7 fracture was stabilized and fused from anterior and posterior. The occipital condyle fracture was reduced and temporarily stabilized from C0-C3 from posterior. Bony healing occurred after 6 months and consequently the internal fixator was removed to preserve upper cervical mobility.
authors.affiliation: BG Unfallklinik Frankfurt am Main, Center for Spinal Surgery and Neurotraumatology, Friedberger Landstraße 430, 60389, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. klaus.schnake@bgu-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Klaus John
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schnake
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pingel
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kandziora
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*