Early mortality and morbidity of odontoid fractures after 70 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: Odontoid fractures are very common in older adults and are associated with a high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after conservative treatment of non-displaced odontoid fractures and surgical treatment of displaced fractures in patients older than 70 years. It was hypothesized that early mortality of displaced fractures is higher than in non-displaced fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective observational study of odontoid fractures (type II in the Anderson and Alonzo classification) in patients older than 70 years that occurred between 2014 and 2017. Conservative treatment with immobilization for 3 months was proposed when the fracture was displaced less than 2 mm (non-displaced fracture group). Surgical treatment in the form of anterior screw fixation was proposed when the fracture displacement was more than 2 mm (displaced fracture group). The primary endpoint was the mortality rate at 3 months. RESULTS: The study included 79 patients (46 women) who had a mean age of 85 years (70-105). The 3-month mortality in the entire cohort was 27% and the 1-year mortality was 30%. Conservative treatment was provided to the 36 patients with non-displaced fractures. The 3-month mortality rate in this group was 11%. A displaced fracture occurred in 43 patients: 17 were treated surgically by anterior screw fixation; 20 could not be operated on because of anesthesia contraindications and 6 died within 24hours of the fracture event. The 3-month mortality rate in this group was 40%; 3 of the 17 operated patients died from postoperative respiratory complications; 8 of the 20 patients with contraindications died, in addition to the 6 that died soon after the fracture occurred. DISCUSSION: This study confirms that mortality and morbidity are high following odontoid fractures. The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with displaced fractures, confirming our hypothesis. The mortality rate was especially high when patients with displaced fractures could not undergo surgery because of anesthesia contraindications. Also, there was a high rate of respiratory complications after anterior screw fixation of displaced fractures. CONCLUSION: Given our findings, conservative treatment should be compared to surgical treatment for displaced fractures and the anterior approach should be compared to the posterior one for surgical cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Hangman's fracture: Management strategy and healing rate in a prospective multi-centre observational study of 34 patients.

BACKGROUND: Hangman's fractures account for 15% to 20% of all cervical spine fractures. The grading system developed by Effendi and modified by Levine and Edwards is generally used as the basis for management decisions. Nonetheless, the optimal management remains controversial. The objective of this study was to describe the treatments used in France in patients with hangman's fractures. The complications and healing rates were analysed according to the fracture type and treatment used. HYPOTHESIS: Among patients with hangman's fracture, those with disc damage must be treated surgically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, multi-centre, observational study was conducted under the aegis of the French Society for Spine Surgery (SociétéFrançaisedeChirurgieRachidienne, SFCR). Patients were included if they had computed tomography (CT) evidence of hangman's fracture. Follow-up data were collected prospectively. Fracture healing was assessed on CT scans obtained 3 and 12 months after the injury. The type of treatment and complications were recorded routinely. RESULTS: We included 34 patients. The fracture type according to Effendi modified by Levine and Edwards was I in 68% of patients, II in 29% of patients, and III in a single patient (3%). The treatment was non-operative in 21 (62%) patients and surgical in 11 (32%). All 28 patients re-evaluated after 1 year had evidence of fracture healing. The remaining 6 patients were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Hangman's fracture is associated with low rates of mortality and neurological complications. Non-operative treatment is appropriate in Type I hangman's fracture, with a 100% healing rate in our study. Types II and III are characterised by damage to the ligaments and discs requiring either anterior C2-C3 fusion or posterior C1-C3 screw fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

C1 fracture: Analysis of consolidation and complications rates in a prospective multicenter series.

INTRODUCTION: Three types of C1 fracture have been described, according to location: type 1 (anterior or posterior arc), type 2 (Jefferson: anterior and posterior arc), and type 3 (lateral mass). Stability depends on transverse ligament integrity. The main aim of the present study was to analyze complications and consolidation rates according to fracture type, age and treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The French Society of Spinal Surgery (SFCR) performed a multicenter prospective study on C1-C2 trauma. All patients with recent fracture diagnosed on CT were included. Consolidation on CT was studied at 3 months and 1 year. Medical, neurologic, infectious and mechanical complications were inventoried using the KEOPS data-base. RESULTS: Sixty-three of the 417 patients (15.1%) had C1 fracture: type 1 (33.3%), type 2 (38.1%), or type 3 (28.6%). The transverse ligament was intact in 53.9% of cases. Treatment was non-operative in 63.5% of cases, surgical in 27.0%, and surgical after failure of non-operative treatment in 9.5%. There were 8 medical complications, more frequently in patients aged >70 years, following surgery (p<0.0001). The consolidation rate was 84.2% with non-operative treatment, 100% for primary surgery, and 33.3% for secondary surgery (p=0.002). There were 10 cases of non-union, in 4.8% of type 1, 13.6% of type 2 and 33.3% of type 3 fractures (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Medical complications showed association with age and with type of treatment. Non-operative treatment was suited to types 1, 2 and 3 with minimal displacement and intact transverse ligament. C1-C2 fusion was suited to displaced unstable type 2 fracture. Displaced type 3 fracture incurred risk of non-union. Early surgery may be recommended. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.