The Treatment of Upper Cervical Spine Injuries
This spine surgery lecture is about the treatment of upper cervical spine injuries.

Lecturer: Max Aebi, MD, DHC, FRCSC
Includes:
- Online Lecture Presentation
- Pre- and Post- Learning Assessments
- Additional Learning Materials (Standard Package only)
Ref.ID: 6_10_aebi
DOI: 10.28962/01.3.115
What you will cover in this lecture
This spine surgery lecture advances through a list of several different types of upper cervical spine injuries, covering their features, classifications and surgical treatment options. These include occipital condyle fractures, atlanto-occipital dislocation, Jefferson fracture, odontoid fracture, atlanto-axial instability and C2 traumatic spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. They are illustrated with the help of clinical cases, X-ray images and diagrams.
Learning Objectives
- To be familiar with the surgical and non-surgical treatment indications and contraindications of the 6 most frequent upper CS injuries.
- To know the conservative measures to treat the upper CS injuries, and which injuries should be treated by which surgical technique.
- To be familiar with the potential complications of the different surgical techniques and how to handle them.
- To be able to inform the patients concerned about the potential outcome of the different treatment modalities.
Target Groups
Max Aebi MD, DHC, FRCSC
- Professor Emeritus Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Montreal (CND) and University of Bern (CH)
- Member of the European Academy of Science
- Deputy Editor Web-based Education, European Spine Journal
- "Das Rückenzentrum" at Salem-Spital Hirslanden, Bern (CH)
eccElearning Participation
Co-ordinating Editor
Editor
Author
- The History of Spine in Medicine – and beyond
- Adult Scoliosis - Epidemiology, Natural history, Classification, Clinical Assessment, HRQOL
- Classification of Sub-Axial Cervical Spine Injuries
- Upper Cervical Spine: Instability and specific anatomical structures
- The Treatment of Upper Cervical Spine Injuries
- Classification of Thoracolumbar Fractures
Lecture Presentation
The Treatment of Upper Cervical Spine Injuries
Includes:
- Online Lecture Presentation
- Pre- and Post- Learning Assessments
- Additional Learning Materials (Standard Package only)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an eccElearning Lecture like?
A: Each Lecture includes the Lecture Presentation, Additional Learning Resources, Pre-Learning Quiz and Lecture Assessment.
Each Spine Surgery Lecture is viewed online in video format and lasts from 20-45 minutes. The Lectures contain relevant additional learning resources (book chapters, research papers, surgical videos, master lecture videos, case reports, review articles, etc.), which are presented in context and viewable immediately for your convenience.
Q: How much time will a Lecture take?
A: Lecture presentations typically take 20-45 minutes to run. However, candidates are required to review the compulsory and recommended additional learning resources contained within the Lecture. The time taken to view the Lecture and review the additional resources is in the range 3-4 hours per Lecture.
Q: What payment methods are accepted?
A: All major credit and debit cards.
Q: What do I do if I fail a Lecture Assessment?
A: You are permitted to retake a Lecture Assessment up to two times. The Lecture Assessment will be made available to you again 14 days after a failed attempt. If you’ve failed the Lecture Assessment three times, please get in contact with us to discuss your options.
Q: What courses does eccElearning provide?
A: We have the Diploma in Spine Surgery with Modules individually purchasable, lecture bundles, an Endoscopic Spine Surgery Programme, a Residents' Spine Programme, and Spine Surgery Specialist Certificates in Radiology and Physiotherapy.

