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Atlas Fractures

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Abstract

Atlantoaxial posterior fixation is a well-described technique for instability in the adult population. Although also described in the pediatric population, smaller bony anatomy, synchondroses, and broad pathological conditions make this technique more challenging compared to adults. Here, we describe a young female patient who presented with a traumatic anterior atlas fracture after a previous suboccipital craniectomy with a C1 laminectomy. An instrumented fusion with C1 lateral mass and C2 pars screws was chosen to stabilize her upper cervical spine. Thin cut CT scans with sagittal reconstructions and a cervical MRI were obtained to provide a thorough review of the vertebral arteries and the C2 pars and C1 lateral mass lengths and diameters. Various indications, considerations, and techniques for C1–2 fixation in the pediatric population are discussed in entry ***.

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Correspondence to Philipp Aldana .

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Aldana, P., Gassie, K. (2017). Atlas Fractures. In: Iobst, C., Frick, S. (eds) Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma Case Atlas. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28226-8_66-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28226-8_66-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28226-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28226-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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