Spine Fx Flashcards
Q: What is the typical MOI for cervical fractures?
MVA, fall, violence, sports
Q: __________ injuries do not have significant bone or joint displacement, ______________ structures remain intact.
Stable, ligamentous
T/F: Occipital condyle fractures are common.
False: rare
Q: What is the typical treatment for a type 2 occipital cervical injury with > 5mm displacement and 10 degrees of angulation?
Traction and PSF or anterior screw placement
Q: Which region of the L-spine is unstable, largely due to force necessary to casue injury?
L5-S1
Term: refers to immediate or subsequent risk or spinal cord and spinral nerve root injury
Stability
Q: Early _______________ use and _________ stabilization are indicated for ____ cases of radiographic neurologic compromise.
Corticosteroid, surgical, all
Q: Where does cauda equina being?
L2
Content: Treatment of C-spine injury (4)
- Immobilization
- Ongoing neurological examination
- Imaging
- Stabilization
Defn: Non-union
A fracture that does not heal and remains unstable due to a lack of blood supply
Content: Subaxial cervical distraction-flexion injury (4)
- distraction load on flexed neck
- common MOI = MVA
- most vulnerable regions = C5-6 and C6-7
- facet dislocation (U/B) and posterior longitudinal ligament compromise
Content: Subaxial cervical - vertical compression injury (3)
- MOI = MVA or diving
- Most vulnerable = C5-7
- Compresses and shortens anterior and middle columns
Q: What is the conservative approach to T-spine fractures? (3)
- Postural reduction
- Bedrest
- Functional bracing
Q: Fractures involving ____ column are stable while fractures involving ____ columns are unstable.
1, 3
Q: What is another name for an atlas fracture?
Jefferson fracture
Content: 3 classifications for fractures of the spine
1 = stable
2 = unstable
3 = unstable
T/F: Thoracic spine fractures have a bimodal distribution of incidence.
True
Q: What 2 areas of the spine are most commonly injured?
- lower c-spine
- T-L junction
Content: Define the location of the middle column
Posterior longitudinal ligament, posterior 1/3 of vertebral body, and annulus
T/F: Lower c-spine injury is assumed until proven otherwise.
True
Diagram: Anterior, middle, and posterior columns
Q: What is the most frequently fractured thoracic spine?
T12 and L1
Content: Treatment of subaxial cervical injuries (3)
- Immediate closed reduction
- Posterior stabilization and anterior decompression with stabilition if disc is herniated
- Immobilization with a cervical orthotic
Diagram identify which is a type 1 and type 2 C2 (axis) fracture
Type 1 on left, Type 2 on right
Term: Thoracic spine fractures: Failure of anterior column, low risk of neurologic compromise
Compression
Diagram: Identify the type of fracture
Atlas fracture
Q: What are some examples of stable injuries?
Compression, traumatic disc herniation, unilateral facet dislocation
Content: Atlanto-occipital dislocation (3)
- associated with spinal cord involvement
- careful immobilization and reduction with positioning and halo
- often require Occ-C2 PSF
Content: C2 (odontoid) fracture population (2)
- Risk taking youth
- Osteoporotic elderly
Q: Which surgical approach appears to offer increased stability?
Posterior fusion/instrumentation
Q: _____ of spinal injuries involve the c-spine.
2/3
Q: What region of the lumbar spine is most susceptible to fractures?
T11-L2
Q: What is the typical treatment for a type 1 occipital cervical injury
Cervical orthosis
Q: __________ injuries show or have potential for significant ________________.
Unstable, displacement
Q: Why are cervical fractures above C4 high mortality?
Due to control of the diaphragm occuring at C3,4,5
Content: Management basis for thoracic spine fractures (3)
- stability, spinal cord compromise
- presence of rib or sternal involvement
- loss of vertebral height
Term: Thoracic spine fractures: Result of axial loading, often associated with neurologic compromise
Burst