• Kee-Yong Ha, Il-Nam Son, Young-Hoon Kim, and Hyun-Ho Yoo.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. kyh@catholic.ac.kr
• Spine. 2012 May 1; 37 (10): E633-7.

Study DesignA case report and literature review.ObjectiveTo illustrate the spontaneous resolution of unstable pathological fracture of the odontoid process of the C2 caused by Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in early childhood.Summary Of Background DataThe involvement of atlantoaxial LCH is very rare and its treatment is unfamiliar to surgeons. Therefore, the management of pediatric LCH of the odontoid process and the C2 body is challenging and must be adapted according to the patient's needs; it could range from observation to surgical intervention.MethodsA case of pathological fracture of the odontoid process with torticollis diagnosed with LCH of the odontoid process and C2 body and involving right femur in early childhood is presented. A histopathological study showed LCH. The patient underwent brace immobilization and systemic chemotherapy.ResultsThe patient showed successful bony remodeling without LCH recurrence on CT. The neck pain was resolved, and there was no limitation in neck movement.ConclusionImmobilization and systemic chemotherapy with close observation are adequate for the management of patients despite the unstable pathological fracture of the odontoid process.

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