title: Posterior C1-C2 Fixation Using Absorbable Suture for Type II Odontoid Fracture in 2-Year-Old Child: Description of a New Technique and Literature Review.
abstract: Odontoid synchondrosis fractures are rare in children, even though they are the more common cervical fracture in children less than 7 years old. Nonoperative treatment with external orthosis immobilization is the treatment of choice for stable undisplaced or minimally displaced injuries. In unstable fractures, when reduction cannot be achieved or maintained, surgical fixation is recommended. We report a 2-year-old boy with an unstable fracture of the odontoid treated surgically using an absorbable monofilament suture for C1-C2 interlaminar fixation without bone grafting. This suture was strong enough to provide the stability necessary to allow healing of the synchondrosis and the delayed resorption of the suture was followed by complete restoration of the mobility between C1 and C2. This case illustrates that surgical stabilization using an absorbable suture in young children with an unstable odontoid fracture is a safe and effective alternative to other surgical techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III.
authors: *Orthopedic and Traumatologic Surgery Department †Anesthesia Department, Nouméa Territorial Hospital, Nouméa, New Caledonia ‡Pierre Paul Riquet Hospital, Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Musculoskeletal Institute, Toulouse, France.
authors: Jean L
authors: JL
authors: Labbe
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Peres
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Leclair
authors: Renaud
authors: R
authors: Goulon
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Scemama
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Jourdel
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Bertrou
authors: Jerome
authors: J
authors: Murgier
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000293:injuries*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed