A new concept in the treatment of fractures of the dens of the axis in view of the high incidence of non-union.

In view of the high incidence of non-union following the conservative treatment of fractures of the dens of the axis, the authors report the results obtained with a surgical technique of posterior arthrodesis of the first two cervical vertebrae. This technique has proved so successful that the authors are inclined to favour its use even in recent lesions.