Objective: Retrospective evaluation of the results of conservative and surgical treatment in senior population patients with type 2 and 3 odontoid fracture according to Anderson DʼAlonzo (A-A) classification treated at the Trauma Clinic of the University Hospital in Brno from 2013 to 2017. Material and methods: The monitored set consisted of 52 patients (28 women, 24 men) aged over 65, the average age being 82 years (66 – 93 years) and the median being 76 years. Fractures of the dens were evaluated according to Anderson and DʼAlonzo classification. Conservative therapy using the Philadelphia-type hard collar for 12 weeks was indicated in patients with non-dislocated or minimally dislocated type II and type III odontoid fracture. Surgical treatment using 2 compression screws C1-2 posterior fusion was primarily indicated in dislocated fractures. The patient monitoring length was minimally 6 months from the injury. X-ray check-ups including clinical check-up of the monitored patients were performed on day 4 - 7 from the diagnosed odontoid fracture or after the surgery performed and also in week 4, 8, 12 and 24 after the injury, when functional x-rays of cervical spine were also made. Results: According to x-ray images, healing of the fracture was observed after 6 months of treatment in 47 % of the patients with type II odontoid fracture. Fracture line persisted in 53 % of patients, but the treat­ment was conservative without clinical correlate and with regard to comorbidities, meaning recommended use of a soft collar for verticalization. In type III odontoid fractures, healing of the fractures was observed in 71 % of the patients. Besides non-healing of the fracture, we evaluated the other therapeutic complications as well. The least complications occurred in conservatively treated patients with a hard collar, where we particularly observed collar galls. Most complications were represented in patients treated by Halo fixation, where we observed numerous complications such as pin track infection, swallowing disorders, pneumonia, and in 53 % of patients recurring loss of odontoid fracture reposition with subsequent non-healing of the fracture. Conclusion: Odontoid fractures belong to the most frequent cervical spine injuries in the elderly popula­tion; the incidence has been increasing and there is no uniform treatment concept which, however, should be individual, also with regard to the associated comorbidities. And with regard to the aforementioned it is important to realize that even a stable ligament false joint is tolerated very well by the elderly people and where neurological symptomatology is absent, it is not always necessary to aim for bone healing of the fracture.

Klinika úrazové chirurgie FN Brno

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