Finite Element Analysis of Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation for Type II Odontoid Fractures.

Introduction

Type II odontoid process fractures are common in the adult population, and anterior screw fixation aims to restore C1-C2 complex stability while preserving cervical motion. This study focuses on the numerical analysis of odontoid fractures, evaluating the structural behavior after anterior screw fixation using finite element simulations.

Methods

Forty-eight patients (males, females, 74 years old on average) diagnosed with type II odontoid fractures and treated surgically between 2015 and 2023 were included in the study. Various loading conditions (magnitude and direction) were simulated to analyze displacements and stress distributions after screw insertion.

Results

Screw fixation significantly fixes fractured vertebrae, but stress and deformation are considerably larger than in unfractured cases. Posterior oblique loads produced the highest stress concentrations, particularly at the base of the odontoid and the screw-bone interface. Male models exhibited greater total deformations and stresses under the same loading conditions, suggesting relevant biomechanical differences based on sex.

Conclusions

Anterior odontoid screw fixation provides effective stabilization in type II odontoid fractures, although its performance depends on factors such as load vector and patient-specific anatomical characteristics. These findings support the use of FEM simulation as a valuable tool for personalized surgical analysis.