ObjectiveTo investigate the classification and clinical value of unilateral cervical lateral mass fracture (C3-7).MethodsFrom January 2008 to December 2017, 68 patients with unilateral cervical lateral mass fracture who had received treatment in Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, were included. According to the position of fracture, the fractures were classified into three types: articular process fractures (type A), isthmus fracture (type B), and comminution (type C). Two subtypes of articular process fractures were type A1 and type A2. Type A1 refered to articular process fracture with no or slight displacement. Type A2 refered to articular process fractures result in foraminal stenosis and nerve root compression. Single-level anterior cervical disectomy and fusion (ACDF) or anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) or conservative treatment was used in type A1. Posterior decompression, fixation and fusion or the method of posterior decompression associated with ACDF were suited to A2. Single-level ACDF was used in type B as well. Type C underwent two-level ACDF or ACCF or posterior procedure.ResultsThere were 35 cases of Type A1, of which 31 patients underwent single-level ACDF, 2 patients underwent ACCF, and 2 patients received conservative treatment, but one of the two underwent ACDF due to delayed cervical instability. Among the 7 cases of type A2, 4 underwent posterior foraminal decompression and posterior fusion with pedicure screw fixation, 2 underwent single-level ACDF and posterior decompression, and 1 underwent single section ACDF and posterior decompression combined with pedical screw fixation. Type C accounted for 21 cases of all targets. Fourteen performed two-level ACDF, 6 performed ACCF, and 1 performed posterior fixation with pedicure screw and expansive open-door laminoplasty. Six patients showed postoperative complications, including C5 root palsy in one case, incision hematoma in two and pulmonary infection in three. There were no case with incision infection or aggravating nervous injury. Sixty-two patients (91.2%) were followed up with a mean duration of 14 months. All the patients obtained bony fusion and no internal fixation failure or kyphosis was found.ConclusionsAccording to fracture position and CT, the unilateral cervical lateral mass fracture can be classified as type A1, type A2, type B, and type C. A satisfied clinical result can be obtained when choosing an appropriate treatment in accordance with different fracture types.