Hangman’s Fracture, C2 Fracture - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

Dr. Ebraheim’s educational animated video describes Hangman’s fractures. Hangman’s Fracture is a bilateral fracture of the pars interarticularis. The spinal canal is widened and there is a low risk for spinal cord injury. The fracture usually occurs more due to motor vehicle accidents. Anatomy •Spinous process •Body •Axis •Pars interarticularis Mechanism of injury Hyperextension will fracture the pars interarticularis with secondary flexion injury the disc and posterior ligament. The patient may have other associated spine fractures (up to 30%). Levine and Edwards classification Type I •Stable fracture with less than 3 mm displacement •No angulation •Treatment: cervical orthosis Type II •Most common type •Significant translation and some angulation •Unstable fracture •Treatment: cervical traction to improve the displacement and immobilization in halo vest. Typer IIa •Slight translation but severe angulation seen in flexion-distraction i