Odontoid fracture

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The odontoid process fracture (also known as the PEG or dens fracture) occurs where there is a fracture through the odontoid process of C2.

The commonest classification of these fractures is the Anderson/D'Alonzo classification:

type I: ~~- fracture~~ fracture of the upper part of the odontoid peg; it's rare and potentially unstable
type II: ~~- fracture~~ fracture at the base of the odontoid; unstable, and has a high risk of non-union
type III: ~~- through~~ through the odontoid and into the lateral masses of C2; best prognosis for healing because of the larger surface area of the fracture

Differential diagnosis

~~-type I - fracture of the upper part of the odontoid peg ; it's rare and potentially unstable</li>~~
+type I: fracture of the upper part of the odontoid peg; it's rare and potentially unstable</li>
~~-type II - fracture at the base of the odontoid ; unstable, and has a high risk of non-union</li>~~
+type II: fracture at the base of the odontoid; unstable, and has a high risk of non-union</li>
~~-type III - through the odontoid and into the lateral masses of C2 ; best prognosis for healing because of the larger surface area of the fracture</li>~~
+type III: through the odontoid and into the lateral masses of C2; best prognosis for healing because of the larger surface area of the fracture</li>
~~-<li><a href="/articles/os_odontoideum">os odontoideum</a></li>~~
~~-<li><a href="/articles/persistent_ossiculum_terminale">persistent ossiculum terminale</a></li>~~
+<li><a href="/articles/os-odontoideum">os odontoideum</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/persistent-ossiculum-terminale">persistent ossiculum terminale</a></li>

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Odontoid fracture

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