Clinical Efficacy Of Odontoid Anterior Single-screw Fixation For Type â…¡ Odontoid Fracture

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of anterior single-screw fixation for typeâ…¡odontoid fracture.Methods:From August 2005 to July 2010, 35 patients (average 34 years, range:15-71years, 23 males and 12 females) with typeâ…¡odontoid fracture underwent anterior single-screw fixation. Spinal cord compression was not found in any patient. The diagnostic categories included 25 flexion fractures and 10 extension fractures. In all the cases, traction was adopted before operation. Complete reduction was obtained in 30 cases. In order to prevent the nonunion of the fractures, anterior single-screw fixations were adopted for all patients.Results:The follow-up periods for all the 35 patients ranged from 6 to 60 months with an average of 36 months. The average operating time was 105 minutes. No patients experienced worsening neurological postoperatively. No other intra- or post-operative complication was observed. All patients axial pain was relieved after surgery. Each patient can maintain good cervical physiological curvature. Each patient obtained bone healing within 10 months (average 5 months). No screws complication was observed in any of the follow-up period.Conclusion:Anterior single-screw fixation may be a feasible and safe way to treat typeâ…¡odontoid fracture.