Displaced Fracture of the Odontoid Process

Abstract

    Displaced fracture odontoid process is an unusual injury, some patients were dead from severe spinal cord injury or died from complications of quadiplegia. There were high rate of nonunion and instability of these fractures.

    In the period of 10 years atPhichitHospital(April 1997 - April 2007) we performed operation Atlanto-Axial Arthrodesis on 4 patients of displaced fracture odontoid process. All of them had excellent result,no complications.All patients could return home within 2 weeks,and union of fracture by the end of 12 weeks.

    It make benefit for patients to return home early, didn’t suffer from complications of long stay in bed,put on Halo cast or Minerva cast especially the elderly. Also it can safe cost for our hospital.

Keywords : Displaced fracture of the odontoid process, Atlanto-Axial Arthrodesis.