HANGMAN'S FRACTURE

Abstract

Of four hangman's fractures of the axis, three occurred in road accidents and were stable, undisplaced and free of neurological signs, with full recovery after six to twelve weeks in a cervical collar. The fourth fracture occurred in a fall with profound tefraparesis from haemorrhage into the spinal cord, and the patient died a week later. There are two types of hangman's fracture: that of the axis pedicle, which results from more common than usually supposed because of the extension and compression of the cervical column, is slight symptoms it causes.