2020 Volume 11 Issue 12 Pages 1353-1356
Objective: Spinal Injuries Center (our institution) has been performing nonoperative treatment for the geriatic patients with acute odontoid fracture, not showing any symptoms of spinal cord paralysis. We report the results of this nonoperative treatment of our institution, focused on the mortality, neck pain and walking function.
Methods: We investigated the patients over 65 years old with acute odontoid fracture from 2013 to 2019. Neck pain and waliking function of these patients were evaluated using VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and the JOA (Japanese Orthopaedic Association) scoring system for cervical myelopathy, respectively.
Results: A total of 12 patients (9 male, 3 female) were hospitalized and treated nonoperatively. The average age at the time of starting nonoperative treatment was 78.8 years. The fracture type of 5 patients was Anderson type II and that of 7 patients was type III. 8 patients were immobilized by cervical collar and 4 patients were halo vest. 3 patients died during outpatient follow-up. The average VAS of neck pain and the JOA score of lower extremity motor function were 0.5 and 2.5, respectively.
