====== Odontoid fracture epidemiology ======

Fractures of the [[odontoid process]] (the [[dens]]) of the [[axis]] account
for 10–20% of [[acute]] [[cervical spine fracture]]s
((Apfelbaum RI, Lonser RR, Veres R, Casey A. Direct anterior screw fixation for
recent and remote odontoid fractures. J Neurosurg 2000;93:227–36.))
((Borne GM, Bedou GL, Pinaudeau M, Cristino G, Hussein A. Odontoid process
fracture osteosynthesis with a direct screw fixation technique in nine consecutive
cases. J Neurosurg 1988;68:223–6.))
((Dickson H, Engel S, Blum P, Jones RF. Odontoid fractures, systemic disease and
conservative care. Aust N Z J Surg 1984;54:243–7.))
((Fujii E, Kobayashi K, Hirabayashi K. Treatment in fractures of the odontoid process.
Spine 1988;13:604–9.))
((Greene KA, Dickman CA, Marciano FF, Drabier JB, Hadley MN, Sonntag VK.
Acute axis fractures. Analysis of management and outcome in 340 consecutive
cases. Spine 1997;22:1843–52.))
((Husby J, Sorensen KH. Fracture of the odontoid process of the axis. Acta
Orthop Scand. 1974;45(2):182-92. PubMed PMID: 4600688.))
((Paradis GR, Janes JM. Posttraumatic atlantoaxial instability: the fate of the odontoid
process fracture in 46 cases. J Trauma 1973;13:359–67.))
((Schatzker J, Rorabeck CH, Waddell JP. Fractures of the dens (odontoid process).
An analysis of thirty-seven cases. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1971;53:392–405.)).

Significant force is required to produce an odontoid fracture in a young individual, and is usually sustained in a [[motor vehicle accident]] (MVA), a fall from a height, a skiing accident, etc. In patients > 70 years age, simple ground level falls (GLF) with head trauma may produce the fracture. Odontoid fractures comprise ≈10–15% of all [[cervical spine fracture]]s
((Husby J, Sorensen KH. Fracture of the odontoid process of the axis. Acta
Orthop Scand. 1974;45(2):182-92. PubMed PMID: 4600688.))

[[Odontoid fracture]]s are the most common geriatric [[cervical spine fracture]]s. 

Fractures of the odontoid process of [[C2]] have become increasingly prevalent in the aging [[population]] and are typically associated with a high [[incidence]] of [[morbidity]]. They comprise the majority of all [[cervical fracture]]s in patients older than 80 years and remain the most common [[cervical fracture]] pattern in all [[geriatric patient]]s
((Wagner SC, Schroeder GD, Kepler CK, Schupper AJ, Kandziora F, Vialle EN, Oner 
C, Fehlings MG, Vaccaro AR. Controversies in the Management of Geriatric Odontoid
Fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Sep;31 Suppl 4:S44-S48. doi:
10.1097/BOT.0000000000000948. PubMed PMID: 28816875.
)).

===== References =====