Functional outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and fracture healing in 58 consecutive patients with geriatric odontoid fracture treated with cervical collar or posterior fusion.

Controversy exists as to the most effective management option for elderly patients with type II odontoid fractures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes associated with rigid cervical collar and posterior fusion surgery. Patients with ≥ 50% odontoid displacement were treated with posterior fusion surgery including C1-2 (PSF group, n = 25, average age = 80 years).

Prophylactic intraoperative powdered vancomycin and postoperative deep spinal wound infection: 1,512 consecutive surgical cases over a 6-year period.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of intraoperative powdered vancomycin on the rates of postoperative deep spinal wound infection. The use of intraoperative powdered vancomycin as a prophylactic measure in an attempt to reduce the incidence of postoperative spinal wound infection has not been sufficiently evaluated in the existing literature. A retrospective review of a large clinical database was performed to determine the rates of deep wound infection associated with the use of intraoperative operative site powdered vancomycin.

Rigid cervical collar treatment for geriatric type II odontoid fractures.

Purpose: To evaluate fracture healing, functional outcomes, complications, and mortality associated with rigid cervical collars.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with <50% odontoid displacement were treated with a rigid cervical collar for 12 weeks (Average age = 84 years). Outcome scores were compared with a group of 40 age-matched control subjects (Average age 79.