Chalk stick fracture
Updates to Article Attributes
Chalk stick or carrot stick fractures are fractures of the fused spine, classically seen in ankylosing spondylitis.
Terminology
Some authors define the chalk stick fracture as a fracture through a Pagetoid long bone (see Paget disease).
Pathology
They usually occur through the disco-vertebral junction in the lower cervical or upper thoracic spine.
When several contiguous segments of the spine are fused, the fused column acts as a lever arm. This places greater than normal stresses on the spine. These fractures often occur following minimal trauma due to the altered biomechanics of the spine.
Associations
Chalk stick fractures are most commonly encounterencountered in ankylosing spondylitis but may also been seen in the fused spines in patients with:
- diffuse
isiopathicidiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) - surgical spinal fusion
History and etymology
Not surprisingly, it is named because of the resemblance of the fracture to breaking a chalk stick or a carrot.
-<p><strong>Chalk stick </strong>or <strong>carrot stick fractures</strong> are fractures of the fused spine, classically seen in <a href="/articles/ankylosing-spondylitis">ankylosing spondylitis</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Some authors define the chalk stick fracture as a fracture through a Pagetoid long bone (see <a href="/articles/paget-disease-bone">Paget disease</a>).</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>They usually occur through the disco-vertebral junction in the lower cervical or upper thoracic spine.</p><p>When several contiguous segments of the spine are fused, the fused column acts as a lever arm. This places greater than normal stresses on the spine. These fractures often occur following minimal trauma due to the altered biomechanics of the spine.</p><h5>Associations</h5><p>Chalk stick fractures are most commonly encounter in ankylosing spondylitis but may also been seen in the fused spines in patients with:</p><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/diffuse-idiopathic-skeletal-hyperostosis">diffuse isiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)</a></li>- +<p><strong>Chalk stick </strong>or <strong>carrot stick fractures</strong> are fractures of the fused spine, classically seen in <a href="/articles/ankylosing-spondylitis">ankylosing spondylitis</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Some authors define the chalk stick fracture as a fracture through a Pagetoid long bone (see <a href="/articles/paget-disease-bone">Paget disease</a>).</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>They usually occur through the disco-vertebral junction in the lower cervical or upper thoracic spine.</p><p>When several contiguous segments of the spine are fused, the fused column acts as a lever arm. This places greater than normal stresses on the spine. These fractures often occur following minimal trauma due to the altered biomechanics of the spine.</p><h5>Associations</h5><p>Chalk stick fractures are most commonly encountered in ankylosing spondylitis but may also been seen in the fused spines in patients with:</p><ul>
- +<li><a href="/articles/diffuse-idiopathic-skeletal-hyperostosis">diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)</a></li>
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