Fractures of the odontoid peg are relatively common in elderly people. Often they are minimally displaced and can be treated with a collar. However, a fracture which is displaced significantly may be difficult to manage. We describe the case of an 80-year-old man with a fracture of the odontoid peg which was completely displaced and caused respiratory distress. After initial closed reduction an...

Cervical spine injuries represent a minority of injury cases in motor vehicles accidents but are a real threat to a patient's life. In the wide range of cervical spine injuries, odontoid (dens) fractures represent the most common findings. These fractures are more usually found in the elderly population due to the changes associated with age. Neurological deficit is not frequently found in thes...

Spontaneous forward luxation at the atlanto-axial level is a well-known and common complication of rheumatoid arthritis. The distance between the articular surface of the odontoid process of the axis and the corresponding articular surface of the atlas should not normally exceed 3 mm. in adults; a larger distance indicates luxation. Conlon, Isdale. and Rose (1966) found luxation between atlas a...