Conservative treatment for traumatic atlantoaxial joint infra-anterior dislocation complicating odontoid fracture in young children: A case series

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively analyze children treated conservatively in our hospital to explore the clinical characteristics of children with traumatic atlantoaxial joint infra-anterior dislocation complicating odontoid fracture and the therapeutic effects of treatment. Methods: Patients with atlantoaxial joint infra-anterior dislocation complicating odontoid fracture received conservative treatment, which comprised three steps: cervical traction (2 weeks), plaster fixation (2 months), and brace fixation (3 months). Results: We treated three patients (boy:girl = 0:3, mean age = 2.5 years old) from 2017 to 2020, the diagnoses were all traumatic C1-2 infra-anterior dislocations associated with odontoid fracture (Anderson and D’Alonzo classification type II: three cases, Hosalkar type IB: two case and IC: one case), with or without cervical spinal cord injury. The C1-2 infra-anterior dislocations were all successfully reduced by gentle traction with the halo method (case 1) or occipital-jaw (cases 2 and 3) for a mean of 18.3 days (19, 15, 21 days), after which the Calot plaster vests (head–neck–chest plaster vests) were fitted and maintained for 2 months, without operation. Braces were maintained for 3 months after the Calot plaster vests were removed. All patients achieved fracture healing and recovered from the spinal injury. Conclusion: In young children, atlantoaxial joint infra-anterior dislocation complicating odontoid fracture usually occurred at the odontoid synchondrosis and belonged to Anderson and D’Alonzo classification type II or Hosalkar type I. Conservative treatment achieved good results (dislocation reduction, bone healing, recovery of neurological symptoms). Level of evidence: Level IV case series.