Upper cervical spine injuries: age-specific clinical features

In the old elderly, stiffness of the lower cervical spine, caused by degenerative changes and osteopenia, might contribute to upper cervical spine injury in response to low-energy trauma. The disproportion of degenerative change in joints of the upper cervical spine might also contribute to the high frequency of type II odontoid fracture. In young adults, high-energy and hyperextension injury was the most frequent cause of upper cervical spine injury.