Hangman's fracture in an osteogenesis imperfecta patient.

Abstract

Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, also known as a hangman's fracture, is a well-described entity but is relatively uncommon. There are only two published reports of these fractures occurring in pediatric patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disorder that predisposes patients to long bone fractures. We present a unique case of an adult woman with osteogenesis imperfecta who sustained an Effendi type II hangman's fracture. Effendi type II fractures can be conservatively managed via rigid or nonrigid cervical orthosis.