Spinal fracture
Spinal fracture | |
---|---|
Other names | Vertebral fracture, broken back |
Lateral spine X-ray showing osteoporotic wedge fractures of L1/2 |
A spinal fracture, also called a vertebral fracture or a broken back, is a
Types
- Cervical fracture
- Fracture of C1, including Jefferson fracture
- Fracture of C2, including Hangman's fracture
- Flexion teardrop fracture – a fracture of the anteroinferior aspect of a cervical vertebra
- spinous process of a vertebraoccurring at any of the lower cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae
- Burst fracture – in which a vertebra breaks from a high-energy axial load
- Compression fracture – a collapse of a vertebra, often resulting in the form of a wedge-shape due to larger compression anteriorly
- Chance fracture – compression injury to the anterior portion of a vertebral body with concomitant distraction injury to posterior elements
- Holdsworth fracture – an unstable fracture dislocation of the thoracolumbar junction of the spine
- Distraction is where there is a pulling apart of the vertebrae.[2] Distraction injuries generally cause breaks in osseous and ligamentous supporting structures, and are therefore generally unstable.[3] A distraction injury on the posterior side of a vertebra can lead to a compression fracture on its anterior side.[3]
Cervical fracture
A
The AO Foundation has developed a descriptive system for cervical fractures, the AOSpine subaxial cervical spine fracture classification system.[5]
The indication to surgically stabilize a cervical fracture can be estimated from the Subaxial Injury Classification (SLIC).[6]
Thoracolumbar fracture
Vertebral fractures of the
Thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score
The thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS) is a
Injury type
- Compression fracture - 1 point
- Burst fracture - 2 points
- Translational rotational injury - 3 points
- Distraction injury - 4 points
Posterior ligamentous complex
- Intact - 0 points
- Suspected injury or indeterminate - 2 points
- Injured - 3 points
Neurology
- Intact - 0 points
- Spinal nerve root injury - 2 points
- Incomplete injury of cord/conus medullaris - 3 points
- Complete injury of cord/conus medullaris (complete) - 2 points
- Cauda equina syndrome - 3 points
A TLICS score of less than 4 indicates non-operative treatment, a score of 4 indicates that the injury may be treated operatively or non-operatively, while a score of more than 4 means that the injury is usually considered for operative management.[8]
AOSpine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System
AOSpine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System (ATLICS)[9] is the most recent classification scheme for thoracolumbar injuries.[10] ATLICS is broadly based on the TLICS system and has sufficient reliability irrespective of the experience of the observer.[10] ATLICS is primarily focused on fracture morphology, and has two additional sections addressing the neurological grading and clinical modifiers:[9]
Fracture morphology
- Type A: Compression injuries (sub-types A0-A4)
- Type B: Distraction injuries (sub-types B1-B3)
- Type C: Translation injuries
Neurological status
- N0: neurologically intact
- N1: transient deficit
- N2: radiculopathy
- N3: "incomplete spinal cord injury or cauda equina injury"[9]
- N4: "complete spinal cord injury"[9]
- NX: unknown neurological status
Modifiers
- M1: unknown tension band injury status
- M2: comorbidities
Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture
Osteoporosis is a condition causing weakening of the bone due to loss of bone substance. Women are about four times more likely to be affected by osteoporosis than men. Osteoporosis may occur after the menopause or as a result of malnutrition, hyperthyroidism, alcoholism, kidney disease. Osteoporosis may occur after treatment with antiepileptic drugs, proton pump inhibitors, antidepressants, corticosteroids or chemotherapy. Osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures might occur even after minor trauma or while twisting, bending or coughing.
Sacral fracture
References
- ^ "Fracture". MDguidelines by the American Medical Association. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
- ISBN 978-0-13-300408-3.
- ^ a b Clark West, Stefan Roosendaal, Joost Bot and Frank Smithuis. "Spine injury - TLICS Classification". Radiology Assistant. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ISSN 1465-1858.
- ^ "Classification". AO Foundation. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ISBN 9780323482844.
- S2CID 6651435.
- ^ a b Buck Christensen. "Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) Scale". Medscape. Retrieved 2017-10-26. Updated: Dec 09, 2014
- ^ S2CID 34356425.
- ^ a b Abedi, Aidin; Mokkink, Lidwine B; Zadegan, Shayan A; Paholpak, Permsak; Tamai, Koji; Wang, Jeffrey C; Buser, Zorica (October 2018). "Reliability and Validity of the AOSpine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System: A Systematic Review." Global Spine Journal. 2192568218806847. doi:10.1177/2192568218806847.