Exam 1 Spinal Trauma Flashcards
What could cause a large anterior fragment with retropulsion of the posterior fragment?
burst fracture
What are some signs associated with a C5 burst fracture?
large anterior fragment and retropulsion of the posterior fragment
What is the mechanism of injury for a burst fracture?
axial compression
What are the findings associated with a chance fracture?
decreased anterior body height, step defect, zone of impaction and a horizontal radiolucent line traversing the neural arch
What is another name for a chance fracture?
lap seat belt fracture
Decreased anterior body height, step defect, zone of impaction and a horizontal radiolucent line traversing the neural arch:
chance fracture aka lap seat belt fracture
What can cause pathological fractures?
osteoporosis, lytic mets or multiple myeloma
What makes a fracture pathological?
decreased height across entire segment
AKA bursting fracture of C1:
Jefferson’s fracture
What are the findings associated with Jefferson’s fracture?
bilateral mass offset, increased ADI, radiolucency/gap in posterior arch
What makes a compression fracture new?
step defects and zone of impaction
What are the findings associated with a tear drop fracture of C2?
triangular osseous fragment at the ant-inf aspect of C2 with an increase in RPI
What is important in determining the type of teardrop fracture?
history and clinical presentation
What number do we use to determine if the transverse ligament is ruptured in a Jefferson’s fracture?
7mm
What do we do with new fractures?
orthopedic consult/specialized imaging
What do we do with old/stable fractures?
referral if clinically indicated
What do we do with old/unstable fractures?
orthopedic consult/specialized imaging
What is the aka for congenital spondylolisthesis?
dysplastic spondylolisthesis
How rare is congenital spondylolisthesis?
very rare
What is congenital spondylolisthesis?
malformation of sacrum and L-5, congenital predisposed, congenitally thin pars, never present at birth
What are the two types of spondylolisthesis someone could have?
spondylolytic or degenerative
Name the lines from anterior to posterior:
anterior body line, posterior body line (George’s), spinal laminar line, supraspinous line
Finding’s associated with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis of L5?
inverted napoleon hat
Do you need obliques with a grad 3 spondylolisthesis?
no, must be bilateral pars defect to be that anterior
What does increased pedicle distance in the lumbars indicate?
bursting fracture
Considerable pubic diastasis and seperation,one or both SI joints seperated:
open book fracture or sprung pelvis
Avulsion fracture of the ASIS involves:
sartorius
Avulsion fracture of the AIIS involves:
rectus femoris
Avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity involves:
hamstrings
What avulsion fracture of the pelvis is most common?
ischial tuberosity fracture
What is degenerative spondylolisthesis?
degeneration of posterior joint, pars intact, MC: L-4, W>M, old age
What does the empty vertebra or ghost vertebra sign indicate?
chance fracture (horizontal splitting of neural arch)
Swelling in the skull?
hematoma
What does the patient need on a multilevel TVP fracture?
urinalysis (potential renal damage, looking for blood) and an orthopedic consult (new fracture)
What are the Wiltse classifications for spondylolisthesis?
Type I - Dysplastic (congenital)
What does deflection/deviation of the paraspinal line indicate?
SOL
When are obliques helpful?
less than 20% anterior displacement