DYSPHAGIA AND DEFORMITY AFTER UNDETECTED ODONTOID FRACTURE IN ELDERLYPATIENTS

Trauma in elderly patients is often difficult to evaluate and neck inj uries are probably more common than is documented. A case is described of a missed odontoid peg fracture with the unusual presentation of dy sphagia and a rapidly developing cervicodorsal kyphos (head falling fo rward), which may well have been anticipated at several points in the management chain. The lessons to be learned are outlined, together wit h the subsequent management of this patient.