Odontoid screw fixation

Abstract

Odontoid screw fixation for management of unstable odontoid fractures is a crucial procedure in any spine surgeon’s armamentarium. In this chapter, we review the indications for odontoid screw fixation before exploring preoperative considerations and providing a step-by-step guide to performing the procedure. A sample case is included to help illustrate the role of the procedure. Finally, we discuss a number of technical pearls and strategies for complication avoidance that may be of interest to both the novice and experienced surgeon.