An unusual type of Hangman's fracture with cord compression: a case report.

An unusual case of hangman's fracture with neurologic sequelae is described in a 43-year-old woman. The fracture involved the body of C-2 with gross dislocation of the anterior part of C-2 and C-1 forward on C-3, associated with severe cord compression. The patient was successfully treated with a decompression of the foramen magnum and C-1 laminectomy, accompanying in situ fusion. The images obtained by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were useful in understanding the true nature of the injury and planning the appropriate surgical treatment.