ABSTRACT
Fracture of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra is a common injury encountered by the spine surgeon. A recent multicenter study of 33,922 blunt trauma admissions demonstrated cervical spine injuries in 2.4% (1). Of those patients, up to 10% may have an injury of the odontoid process or atlantoaxial complex (2). It is likely that all surgeons managing cervical trauma will be faced with this type of injury and will need to counsel patients on the risks of complications in their selected treatment. In this chapter we hope to shed light on the risks and complications involved in odontoid fractures and in their management by nonoperative, posterior operative, and anterior operative based treatment strategies.
