Hangman's fracture.

Of four hangman's fractures of the axis, three occurred in road accidents and were stable, undisplaced and free of neurological signs, with full recovery after six to twelve weeks in a cervical collar. The fourth fracture occurred in a fall with profound tetraparesis from haemorrhage into the spinal cord, and the patient died a week later. There are two types of hangman's fracture: that of the axis pedicle, which results from extension and compression of the cervical column, is more common than usually supposed because of the slight symptoms it causes.