{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T20:09:16Z","timestamp":1762200556935,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761868800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Odontoid fractures\u2014prevalently Anderson\u2013D\u2019Alonzo type II\u2014are clinically relevant for their biomechanical instability and risk of non-union. Posterior C1\u2013C2 fusion yields the highest fusion rates but sacrifices atlantoaxial rotation. Anterior odontoid screw fixation (AOSF) enables direct osteosynthesis while preserving motion. This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic outcomes, fusion rate, and technical considerations of AOSF in a consecutive single-center series, highlighting anatomical and procedural factors influencing bone healing. Methods: Retrospective, single-center case series of patients who underwent AOSF for acute type II odontoid fractures (2018\u20132024). Inclusion criteria included CT-confirmed fractures with reducible alignment. Radiographic parameters (fracture gap and angulation) were measured on standardized sagittal CT reconstructions. Outcomes were evaluated at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Mean follow-up was 24 months. Results: The mean fracture gap decreased from 5.3 mm preoperatively to 0.8 mm postoperatively, and angulation from 27.8\u00b0 to 3.5\u00b0 (p &lt; 0.0001). Nine of ten patients (90%) achieved solid fusion; one required secondary posterior fixation. No intra- or postoperative infections, neurovascular injuries, or neurological deficits were observed. Conclusions: AOSF is a safe and effective motion-preserving technique in appropriately selected Grauer IIA\/IIB fractures. Precise anatomical reduction (&lt;2 mm gap, &lt;5\u201310\u00b0 angulation) is a key predictor of successful fusion, even in elderly patients. Future multicenter studies with larger cohorts and standardized clinical outcome measures are needed to validate radiographic thresholds and optimize patient selection.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14217754","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T19:30:27Z","timestamp":1762198227000},"page":"7754","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation for Trauma: Case Series and Technical Considerations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-2240-5738","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federica","family":"Fig\u00e0","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universit\u00e0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marcello Nunzio","family":"Tirendi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, 00184 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Talacchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, 00184 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Olivi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universit\u00e0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"642","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.1989.71.5.0642","article-title":"Acute Axis Fractures: A Review of 229 Cases","volume":"71","author":"Hadley","year":"1989","journal-title":"J. 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