Objective: To evaluate the therapies and clinical outcome for different types of odontoid process fracture.
Methods: Twenty-one patients with odontoid process fracture were treated with different therapies for different Anderson-D'Alonzo classifications: three cases of type I were treated by traction of occipital-jaw band and fixed with head-neck-chest plaster at 6 weeks; thirteen cases of type II were treated by cannulated screws following skull traction and reduction; and for the cases of type III, one was fixed with screw when the fracture was reduced by skull traction, and four with atlantoaxial pedicle screw.
Results: All cases were followed up for a mean of 9 months (range: 3 - 48). All cases achieved bony union. No post-operative complication was found.
Conclusion: Odontoid process fracture should be treated according to different types. Conservative treatment for type I fracture and cannulated screws for type II and low type III fracture can obtain a satisfactory outcome. Atlantoaxial pedicle screw should be chosen if the superficial type III fracture is not suitable for cannulated screw.