Surgical Outcome of Type II Odontoid Fracture, Harms Technique

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03768843

Enrollment

Registered

2018-12-07

Start date

2015-01-01

Completion date

2018-01-01

Last updated

2018-12-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Tramatic Odontoid Fracture

Brief summary

Cervical trauma is a common cause of disability following spinal cord injury, especially in athletic populations. The biomechanics in the atlantoaxial joint carry more than 50% of the rotational movement which can be affected in transverse ligament tear associated with odontoid fracture type II. Odontoid fracture type II considered an unstable fracture with a high rate of non-union in conservative treatment. Limitation of the odontoid screws in some cases gives the chance of posterior cervical fixation to have the superior role. Use of polyaxial screws in Harms technique gives the best results in maintaining the majority of the biomechanics. Purpose: our aim in this study to evaluate Harms technique in those patients regarding pain improvement and restoration of the motor power and to report the complications. Study design: A retrospective case series study. We Used the Frankel grading system to evaluate the postoperative neurological state.

Detailed description

After approval of Research Ethics Committee, twelve patients with post-traumatic odontoid fracture type II were scheduled in our Neurosurgery department at Sohag University Hospital for atlantoaxial fusion using polyaxial C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screws between January 2015 and January 2018.

Interventions

PROCEDUREHarms technique

Atlantoaxial fusion

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

16 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. C1-C2 displacement that needs intra-operative reduction 2. Short neck not suitable for anterior odontoid screw 3. Osteoporotic patients 4. Odontoid fracture associated with transverse ligament tear suspected. 5. Oblique line of fracture 6. Failure of union after conservative treatment.

Exclusion criteria

* Associated spinal fractures * Other comorbidities

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
evaluation neurological deficit using Frankel grading system within 3 years	3 years	grades from A to E and A is the best neurological function while E is the worst neurological function

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026