Surgical versus conservative treatment of odontoid fractures in the elderly: A randomized controlled clinical study (SCORE).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Odontoid fractures of the second cervical vertebra commonly affect elderly patients due to osteoporosis and low-energy trauma. Treatment is controversial, with prolonged cervical collar immobilization risking non-union and complications, and surgical C1-C2 stabilization involving higher upfront surgical risks. High-level evidence from randomized controlled trials to guide optimal treatment decisions is lacking. The SCORE study aims to determine whether surgical stabilization is non-inferior to conservative collar management in maintaining functional independence for elderly patients with unstable odontoid fractures.

Methods

SCORE is a multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial enrolling 322 patients aged ≥70 years with acute (≤2 weeks

SUBMITTER: Wagner A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12725657 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature