Cervical fractures

1. What is a Jefferson fracture?
2. What is the mechanism of a Jefferson fracture? What are the usual neurologic findings if the patient survives?
3. What is a Hangman fracture?
4. How does a Hangman fracture occur? What are the usual neurologic findings if the patient survives?
5. What is an odontoid fracture? How does it occur and what are the neurological findings?

Answers:
1. Burst fx of C1 ring.
2. Occurs by axial loading, causing fractures of the anterior and posterior parts of the atlas. There are usually no neurological findings.
3. C2 burst fx.
4. Occurs when the body separates from the posterior element. There are usually only transient neurological findings.
5. C2 odontoid fractured off at its base, resulting from trauma. There are usually only transient neurological findings.