Curious Case of Atypical Hangman’s Fracture: C2–C3 Listhesis without Pars Fracture

Abstract

AbstractTraumatic spondylolisthesis of axis or hangman’s fracture is the second most common C2 vertebra injury. We present a report of a young man presenting with a history of fall from height with C2 to C3 spondylolisthesis without any evidence of injury to pars interarticularis but with associated injury to capsular ligament of facet joint along with posterior spinous ligamentous injury. The patient underwent intraoperative reduction in listhesis with posterior screw fixation. The patient showed uneventful postoperative course with neurological improvement at 6-week follow-up. Hangman’s fracture refers to a diverse group of injury in which the soft tissue injury has an equally important part to play as the bone fracture.