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

This study examines a rare injury in young children: traumatic atlantoaxial joint infra-anterior dislocation with odontoid fracture (ADOF). These injuries, often from high-energy trauma, can be fatal or lead to paralysis if not treated correctly. The study retrospectively analyzes three cases treated conservatively, using cervical traction, plaster fixation, and brace fixation. The goal was to understand the characteristics of ADOF in children and the effectiveness of this conservative treatment approach. The conservative treatment involved three steps: initial cervical traction for about two weeks, followed by a Calot plaster vest for two months, and finally a head-neck-chest brace for three months to prevent re-injury.

• 1
  All three patients' C1-2 infra-anterior dislocations were successfully reduced using gentle traction methods (halo or occipital-jaw) without surgery.
• 2
  Fracture healing was achieved in all patients, and the patient with hemiplegia experienced a good recovery within a year.
• 3
  The study suggests that conservative treatment can achieve good results, including dislocation reduction, bone healing, and recovery of neurological symptoms, in young children with this type of injury.