Surgical Intervention Versus Cervical Collar Treatment of Displaced Type II Odontoid Fractures in the Elderly : A Randomized Controlled Trial
(2026) In Neurosurgery Publish Ahead of Print.- Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: – The treatment of displaced odontoid type II fractures in the elderly is controversial. The objective of this study was to compare surgical intervention with cervical collar treatment.METHODS: – This open-label, randomized controlled superiority trial included neurologically intact participants 75 years and older with displaced odontoid type II fractures, randomized to posterior C1-C2 surgery or cervical collar treatment. The primary outcome was Neck Disability Index (NDI) at the 1 year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index, EuroQol-visual analogue scale, radiological data and mortality. Between-group comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U test; within-group comparisons... (More)
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: – The treatment of displaced odontoid type II fractures in the elderly is controversial. The objective of this study was to compare surgical intervention with cervical collar treatment.METHODS: – This open-label, randomized controlled superiority trial included neurologically intact participants 75 years and older with displaced odontoid type II fractures, randomized to posterior C1-C2 surgery or cervical collar treatment. The primary outcome was Neck Disability Index (NDI) at the 1 year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index, EuroQol-visual analogue scale, radiological data and mortality. Between-group comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U test; within-group comparisons used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data in NDI and EQ-5D index.RESULTS: – Forty-seven participants (25 surgical group, 22 cervical collar group) were randomized. Median [IQR] baseline NDI was 40% [18%-60%] in the surgical group and 44% [27%-65%] in the cervical collar group. At 1 year, NDI was 24% [5%-33%] in the surgical group and 34% [8%-50%] in the cervical collar group (P = .29 for group comparison, and P = .028 and P = .16 for within group change, respectively). Median EQ-5D index at 1 year was 0.71 [0.39-0.94] and 0.62 [0.195-1], and EuroQol-visual analogue scale was 70 [45-77.5] and 60 [37.5-75]. Bony union and radiological stability were more frequent in the surgical group. One year mortality was 7 and 3 participants, respectively (P = .3).CONCLUSION: – Surgical intervention was not superior to treatment with a cervical collar for displaced type II odontoid fractures.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Odontoid fracture, Patient-reported outcomes, Spine, Surgery, Trauma
- in
- Neurosurgery
- volume
- Publish Ahead of Print
- article number
- 10.1227/neu.0000000000004114
- publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105042342112
- pmid:42274420
- ISSN
- 0148-396X
- DOI
- 10.1227/neu.0000000000004114
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0d95c2a4-5833-4330-a589-3435fbdd12e1
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-13 09:56:44
- date last changed
- 2026-09-10 11:44:02
@article{0d95c2a4-5833-4330-a589-3435fbdd12e1,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: – The treatment of displaced odontoid type II fractures in the elderly is controversial. The objective of this study was to compare surgical intervention with cervical collar treatment.METHODS: – This open-label, randomized controlled superiority trial included neurologically intact participants 75 years and older with displaced odontoid type II fractures, randomized to posterior C1-C2 surgery or cervical collar treatment. The primary outcome was Neck Disability Index (NDI) at the 1 year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index, EuroQol-visual analogue scale, radiological data and mortality. Between-group comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U test; within-group comparisons used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data in NDI and EQ-5D index.RESULTS: – Forty-seven participants (25 surgical group, 22 cervical collar group) were randomized. Median [IQR] baseline NDI was 40% [18%-60%] in the surgical group and 44% [27%-65%] in the cervical collar group. At 1 year, NDI was 24% [5%-33%] in the surgical group and 34% [8%-50%] in the cervical collar group (P = .29 for group comparison, and P = .028 and P = .16 for within group change, respectively). Median EQ-5D index at 1 year was 0.71 [0.39-0.94] and 0.62 [0.195-1], and EuroQol-visual analogue scale was 70 [45-77.5] and 60 [37.5-75]. Bony union and radiological stability were more frequent in the surgical group. One year mortality was 7 and 3 participants, respectively (P = .3).CONCLUSION: – Surgical intervention was not superior to treatment with a cervical collar for displaced type II odontoid fractures.</p>}},
author = {{Singh, Aman and Robinson, Anna Lena and Robinson, Yohan and Rudström, Julia and Lafta, Muataz S. and Möller, Anders K. and Ivars, Katrin and Elmi-Terander, Adrian and MacDowall, Anna and Olerud, Claes and Gerdhem, Paul}},
issn = {{0148-396X}},
keywords = {{Odontoid fracture; Patient-reported outcomes; Spine; Surgery; Trauma}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
publisher = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
series = {{Neurosurgery}},
title = {{Surgical Intervention Versus Cervical Collar Treatment of Displaced Type II Odontoid Fractures in the Elderly : A Randomized Controlled Trial}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1227/neu.0000000000004114}},
doi = {{10.1227/neu.0000000000004114}},
volume = {{Publish Ahead of Print}},
year = {{2026}},
}