South Dakota medicine : the journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association
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Anterior screw fixation of the odontoid is contraindicated in remote type II fractures. The alternative surgical treatment consists of a posterior C1 to C2 or an occiput to C3 fusion, which is met with much resistance by patients as this option limits head motion, especially rotational movement. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first documented report of solid fusion of remote type II odontoid fracture treated with rhBMP-2 and anterior screw fixation. The authors believe that this technique may be a viable alternative for the treatment of failed odontoid fractures older than six months.