Pedicle fracture of the axis: report of two cases and a review of literature

Clinical and neuroradiological features of two cases with unilateral pedicle fractures of C2 were presented and the literature of this rare traumatic fracture was reviewed. Both 37- and 57-year-old woman had traffic accident and were admitted in our institute. Both patients were neurologically free except for neck pain. Plain X-ray of cervical spine did not show abnormal findings. Computerized tomography (CT) with bone window showed the location and extension of the traumatic fracture in C2 pedicle. The fracture was located in the portion between the lateral border of the odontoid process and pars interarticularis. Fractures of the C2 pedicle are rarely seen in acute traumatic fractures. They can be overlooked because there is confusion in the describing of anatomical location of C2 pedicle in some medical literature. For proper diagnosis of pedicle fracture of the axis, understanding of the anatomy of C2 and CT findings with bone window are important.