Spine fractures Flashcards
Classification of Cervical spine frax
Upper (C1/2/C3) and Lower (C4-C8)
Subaxial (under C3)
Injury type:
Type A = compression injuries
Type B = distraction injuries
Type C = translation injuries
Type F = facet joint injury
same for down the spine
Type A – compression injuries
Type B – distraction injuries
Type C – translation injurie
Classification of Cervical spine frax
Upper (C1/2/C3) and Lower (C4-C8)
Subaxial (under C3)
Injury type:
Type A = compression injuries
Type B = distraction injuries
Type C = translation injuries
Type F = facet joint injury
Cervical Spine Clinical features
usually high energy fractures- TRAUMA
Neck pain and associated neurology
injury to the vertebral artery from a cervical fracture (especially in high cervical fractures) may present with a posterior circulation stroke.
Complete (full sensory and motor loss), or incomplete
Canada rules-imagine (CT) if
age ≥ 65yrs, a dangerous mechanism, or paraesthesia in extremities.
mx is via surgical immobilization if unstable-usually posterior appraoch–ABSOLUTE IF PROGRESSIVE
or C-Spine collar
Thoracolumbar Spine fractures
Junction most common fracture (t11-L2)
But can occur anywhere is spine following trauma in young patients, and low energy in adults
can always result in spinal cord injury so really need neuro
signs are often back pain, UMN neuro
Ix-
xray, CT if any neuro
Mx- usually conservative- with binders
surgery based on stability and progressive neuro changes
