Spinal fractures

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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: always involves the posterior vertebral body cortex
wedge fracture: single column anterior vertebral fracture
vertebra plana: vertebra has lost almost its entire height both anteriorly and posteriorly
chalk-stick fracture: most frequently in ankylosing spondylitis
limbus fracture: fracture of the apophyseal ring

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

Differential diagnoses

limbus vertebra: can mimic a fracture

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