Traumatic Type III odontoid fracture and severe rotatory atlantoaxial subluxation in a 3-year-old child: Case report

David Panczykowski, Andrew N. Nemecek, Nathan R. Selden

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    9 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    In this report, the authors describe the case of a 3-year-old child with a traumatic Type III odontoid fracture. To their knowledge, this is the first reported case of a true Type III odontoid fracture with atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation in a child. The patient presented with pain and had resisted manipulation of the neck following a motor vehicle crash. Plain cervical radiographs revealed an odontoid fracture, which was confirmed by CT imaging. The left lateral mass of C-1 was rotated anterior to that of C-2 with the displaced odontoid process acting as the pivot point of rotation. The C1-2 alignment was normalized, and the C-2 fracture was reduced completely. The regional anatomy and mechanism of injury, radiographic diagnosis, and management of cervical spine injuries in children are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)200-203
    Number of pages4
    JournalJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
    Volume5
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 2010

    Keywords

    • Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation
    • Odontoid fracture
    • Pediatric neurosurgery

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Surgery
    • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
    • Clinical Neurology

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