ABSTRACT

Aim:

Hangman’s fracture is fracture of the second cervical vertebra that separates the anterior and posterior elements of the vertebrae. There are very important biomechanical consequences of a hangman’s fracture. The finite element method is the most frequently used mathematical method for modeling the cervical vertebrae.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, a simulation of clinically-seen hangman’s fracture was created and studied using the finite element method. The mechanism and localization of the hangman’s fracture was studied by linear static analysis, and migration and tensile analyses were done from the atlantodental joint surface, parallel to the axial plane of the dens axis, considering that there is a 1000 N bending force transmitted from the atlas.

Results:

The results of our study are in accordance with the results of experimental cadaveric studies. Thus, this study shows the accuracy of analyses by quantitative methods, as well as the limitation conditions, loadings, and selected element types.

Conclusions:

Instead of using an expensive cadaveric method or methods with differences in quality, with the finite element method, it is possible to examine trauma in detail and with high sensitivity.