Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2020 , Vol 30 , Num 3
Hangman's Fractures: Definition, Classifications, Treatment Approaches
Nail ÖZDEMİR1,Kemal PAKSOY2
1Serbest Hekim, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi, İzmir, Türkiye
2Memorial Bahçelievler Hastanesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
The traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis or so-called hangman"s fracture is characterized by a bilateral pars fracture and avulsion through the neural arch of the axis from its vertebral body. It occurs with axial loading accompanying hyperextension. The most important point for the conservative or surgical treatment decision in the treatment approach in hangman"s fractures is the amount of instability. Some authors have reported that fractures treated with a collar or halo instead of surgery have demonstrated a good outcome, but many of them have neglected the drawbacks with conservative treatment, including residual pain, residual deformities (kyphosis or anterior translation of C2?C3), and long duration of immobilization in a halo orthosis, especially for unstable fractures. To resolve the problem of conservative treatment for these problems, early surgical treatment for unstable fractures has been increasingly used and reported in many countries. Anahtar Kelimeler : Hangman fractures, Axis, Spondylolisthesis