Therapeutic management in an elderly patient with odontoid fracture

Abstract

Fracture of the odontoid process is the most common type of cervical spine fracture in elderly patients (i.e. population over the age of 70 years), which can lead to disability or death. The therapeutic management depends on imaging findings and patient’s general condition. The authors present a case of a 71-year-old patient diagnosed with odontoid fracture based on cervical spine computed tomography, who received surgical treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Regional Medical Centre in Opole. The problem of odontoid fractures in the elderly has been a subject of a comprehensive discussion.