Spinal fractures

Changed by Ayush Goel, 1 Nov 2013

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Spinal fractures are usually the result of significant trauma to a normally formed skeleton, or the result of trauma to a weakened spinal column. Examples include:

Jefferson fracture -: ring fracture of C1
hangman fracture -: bilateral pedicle or pars fracture of C2
dens fracture
flexion teardrop fracture -: unstable flexion fracture
extension teardrop fracture -: stable injury
clay-shoveler fracture -: spinal process avulsion injury
Chance fracture -: horizontal fracture through the thoracolumbar spine
burst fracture
wedge fracture
vertebra plana
chalk-stick fracture -: most frequently in ankylosing spondylitis

Further information about specific fractures can be found by anatomic site:

Differential diagnoses

limbus vertebra ~~- can~~: can mimic a fracture

Image 1 CT (bone window) ( update )

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Case 1 -: burst fracture

Image 2 CT (bone window) ( update )

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Case 2 -: Jefferson fracture

Image 3 CT (bone window) ( update )

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Case 3 ~~- Dens~~: dens fracture

Image 4 CT (bone window) ( update )

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Case 4 ~~- Chance~~: chance fracture

Image 5 MRI (T2) ( update )

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Case 5 -: spinal fracture and dislocation

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