Temporary Fusionless Occipitocervical Fixation of Bilateral Occipital Condylar Avulsion Fractures in an Adult.

INTRODUCTION

Occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) are rare injuries presenting with neurologic sequelae that may be debilitating or even fatal. Treatment options for unstable OCFs include fusion or halo placement. Fusion of the occipitocervical junction is associated with a significant loss of motion.

CASE REPORT: This study presents a case of bilateral occipital condylar fractures with C1-C2 rotatory subluxation treated with temporary fusionless occipitocervical fixation.

CONCLUSION

This is a rare case of bilateral OCFs with atlantoaxial instability that underwent fusionless instrumentation and subsequent hardware removal. Treatment resulted in excellent radiographic and clinical outcomes regarding pain and motion at the most recent follow-up.