Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases

Purpose. Anderson type III odontoid fractures have traditionally been considered stable and treated conservatively. However, unstable cases with unfavorable results following conservative treatment have been reported. Methods. We present the cases of two patients who sustained minimally displaced An...

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Main Authors: Hirokazu Takai, Lukas Konstantinidis, Hagen Schmal, Peter Helwig, Stefan Knöller, Norbert Südkamp, Oliver Hauschild
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Orthopedics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7561682
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author Hirokazu Takai
Lukas Konstantinidis
Hagen Schmal
Peter Helwig
Stefan Knöller
Norbert Südkamp
Oliver Hauschild
author_facet Hirokazu Takai
Lukas Konstantinidis
Hagen Schmal
Peter Helwig
Stefan Knöller
Norbert Südkamp
Oliver Hauschild
author_sort Hirokazu Takai
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. Anderson type III odontoid fractures have traditionally been considered stable and treated conservatively. However, unstable cases with unfavorable results following conservative treatment have been reported. Methods. We present the cases of two patients who sustained minimally displaced Anderson type III fractures with a characteristic fracture pattern that we refer to as “oblique type axis body fracture.” Results. The female patients aged 90 and 72 years, respectively, were both diagnosed with minimally displaced Anderson type III fractures. Both fractures had a characteristic “oblique type” fracture pattern. The first patient was treated conservatively with cervical spine immobilization in a semirigid collar. However, gross displacement was noted at the 6-week follow-up visit. The second patient was therefore treated operatively by C1–C3/4 posterior fusion and the course was uneventful. Conclusions. Oblique type axis body fractures resemble a highly unstable subtype of Anderson type III fractures with the potential of severe secondary deformity following conservative treatment, irrespective of initial grade of displacement. The authors therefore warrant a high index of suspicion for this injury and suggest early operative stabilization.
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issn 2090-6749
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spelling doaj-art-2c25d40f057c442d8021a0093dbc19dc2025-08-20T02:07:38ZengWileyCase Reports in Orthopedics2090-67492090-67572016-01-01201610.1155/2016/75616827561682Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two CasesHirokazu Takai0Lukas Konstantinidis1Hagen Schmal2Peter Helwig3Stefan Knöller4Norbert Südkamp5Oliver Hauschild6Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Sonder Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Freiburg University Medical Centre, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyPurpose. Anderson type III odontoid fractures have traditionally been considered stable and treated conservatively. However, unstable cases with unfavorable results following conservative treatment have been reported. Methods. We present the cases of two patients who sustained minimally displaced Anderson type III fractures with a characteristic fracture pattern that we refer to as “oblique type axis body fracture.” Results. The female patients aged 90 and 72 years, respectively, were both diagnosed with minimally displaced Anderson type III fractures. Both fractures had a characteristic “oblique type” fracture pattern. The first patient was treated conservatively with cervical spine immobilization in a semirigid collar. However, gross displacement was noted at the 6-week follow-up visit. The second patient was therefore treated operatively by C1–C3/4 posterior fusion and the course was uneventful. Conclusions. Oblique type axis body fractures resemble a highly unstable subtype of Anderson type III fractures with the potential of severe secondary deformity following conservative treatment, irrespective of initial grade of displacement. The authors therefore warrant a high index of suspicion for this injury and suggest early operative stabilization.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7561682
spellingShingle Hirokazu Takai
Lukas Konstantinidis
Hagen Schmal
Peter Helwig
Stefan Knöller
Norbert Südkamp
Oliver Hauschild
Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
Case Reports in Orthopedics
title Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
title_full Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
title_fullStr Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
title_full_unstemmed Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
title_short Oblique Axis Body Fracture: An Unstable Subtype of Anderson Type III Odontoid Fractures—Apropos of Two Cases
title_sort oblique axis body fracture an unstable subtype of anderson type iii odontoid fractures apropos of two cases
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7561682
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