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Epidemiology
The C2 fracture accounts for nearly 19% of all spinal fractures and 55% of cervical fractures. Within C2 fractures, the hangman’s fracture accounts for 23% of occurrences while the Odontoid or dens fracture accounts for 55% of them.

Common Causes and High Risk Groups
The injury mainly occurs from falls usually in older adults and motor accidents mainly due to impacts of high force causing extension of the neck and great axial load onto the C2 vertebrae. . In a study based in Norway, 60% of reported cervical fractures came from falls and 21% from motor related accidents. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the group under the highest risk of C2 fractures are elderly people within the age group of 65-84(39.02%) at risks of falls (61%) or motor accidents (21%) in metropolitan areas(94%). 203 discharges were from the age group 1-17; 1843 from 18-44 year olds; 2147 from 45-64 year olds, 4890 from 65-84 year olds, and 3440 from 85+ year olds. Females accounted for 54.45% of occurrences while males accounted for the other 45.38%.

Hospital Costs


Statistics from the AHRQ show that there were 12,532 hospital discharges from C2 fractures in the US during 2010. The mean healthcare costs were $17,015 and the “national bill” or the aggregate charges were $749,553,403. Only 460 in-hospital deaths related to the C2 fracture occurred. From 2000 to 2010, the number of discharges has increased from 4,875 to 12,532, almost a 250% increase. Mean health care costs went from $24,771 to $59,939.