OBJECTIVE: This article describes a clinical and radiologic retrospective analysis of odontoid fractures in20 patients accompanied byThe IOT-HCFMUSP,from 2004 to 2010. METHODS: These fractures were stratified according to their classification (AO/Anderson andD'Alonzo), epidemiologic profile, type of treatment, time to consolidation of the fracture, and complications. RESULTS: It was observed that there was a higher number of odontoid fractures in males (4:1), between the third and fourth decades of life (60%), and that the main causes of the trauma were falling from heights (60%) and car accidents (25%). Also, 15% of the cases presented neurological deficits. The most prevalent type of odontoid fracture was Type II (55%) followed by Type III (40%). The most prevalent type of treatment used for Type II and III fractures was surgical (73%) and non-surgical (87.5%), respectively. Consolidation of the fracture took place within 16 weeks in 87.5% of surgically treated cases, and in 54.5% of those treated non-surgically. No cases of pseudoarthrosis were found. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of Type II odontoid fractures showed satisfactory results in relation totime to consolidation of the fracture and low incidence of complications, as did the non-surgical treatment used for the Type III fractures. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.
Spinal fractures; Odontoid process; Odontoid process; Axis
