Burst fracture radiology

George M. Bridgeforth and Mark Nolden A year-old man falls 30 ft down an elevator shaft burst fracture radiology losing consciousness. Burst fractures are traumatic spinal injuries that involve vertebral breakage. They may occur as a result of cervical injuries from diving accidents or from rollover accidents in which the driver was not wearing a seat belt.

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October Learn More or Try it out now. Ankara Cad. Burst fractures can occur with different radiological images after high energy. We aimed to simplify radiological staging of burst fractures.

Burst fracture radiology

There is a comminuted burst 3 column fracture involving the L1 vertebra, including a large retropulsed fragment causing significant stenosis of the central canal. Bilateral L1 transverse process fractures. Minimally displaced fracture through the T12 spinous process is also noted. No hepatic or splenic laceration or hematoma identified. No intraperitoneal free gas or fluid. The adrenals, kidneys and pancreas are normal. Large and small bowel is normal limits. The bladder is unremarkable. Burst fracture is a type of compression fracture which results in disruption of the posterior vertebral body cortex with retropulsion into the spinal canal. Updating… Please wait.

Neurologic return versus cross-sectional canal area in incomplete thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries. In conclusion, in burst fractures, if the energy that is exposed increases, the fragment moves on and leads to neural injury and breaks the posterior component of the spine. The Scientific World Journal, burst fracture radiology.

Fifty percent of TL fractures are unstable and can result in significant anatomic injury and deformity 4. Clinical assessment of patients with TL fractures is often challenging and, as a result, diagnostic imaging usually plays an essential role in their exact diagnosis and appropriate management 6. The aim of this article is to review the role of different imaging methods in studying TL fractures, emphasizing the role of the radiologist in classifying and quantifying the severity of these fractures. Radiographs are the adequate starting modality for patients who have sustained a low-energy trauma. AP and lateral views are usually performed. Both projections are useful in assessing vertebral height and the presence of fracture lines. The AP view allows the measurement of the interpedicular distance, which is increased in burst fractures, and the interspinous distance, which is increased in posterior ligamentous complex PLC injuries.

At the time the case was submitted for publication Mohammadtaghi Niknejad had no recorded disclosures. Burst fracture with height loss is noted at L5 vertebral body, causing retropulsion and spinal canal narrowing. Fracture without displacement is present at bilateral lamina of L4 vertebra. There are also fracture with displacement at right transverse process of L1, L2, L3 and L4 vertebrae. In addition, fracture of spinous process of L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae are evident. Burst fracture is a type of compression fracture that results in disruption of the posterior vertebral body cortex with retropulsion into the spinal canal.

Burst fracture radiology

Clinical Presentation The patient is a year-old female who states that at approximately p. The patient states that she landed on her feet on a grassy surface. The patient states that she had immediate onset of low back pain.

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Here are four examples. Fractures through the posterior elements red arrows. A complete neurological examination, initial radiographs, and a CT scan are used to assess stability. Now when you look carefully at the lateral view, you will notice that the facets are separated. These parameters are mechanism of injury, neurological status and integrity of the PLC. Again look at the first MR-images and decide what is going on. Bone Tumors Bone tumors in alphabetical order Bone tumors - Differential diagnosis Osteolytic - ill defined bone tumors Osteolytic - well defined bone tumors Sclerotic bone tumors Cartilage tumors. It is important to examine the patient for other traumatic injuries to the major organs as well. J Orthop Res. As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature.

Skip to content. Our team of dedicated access representatives is here to help you make an appointment with the specialists that you need. A burst fracture is an injury in which the vertebra, the primary bone of the spine, breaks in multiple directions.

The MRI tells us the whole story. That is until we zoom in and look at the distance between the spinous processes. Retropulsion of a body fragment and the percentage of narrowing of the spinal canal. At first glance the AP-view doesn't look very odd. Numbness and weakness occurs at and below the level of the spinal cord injury. Since the integrity of the PLC depends mostly on ligamentous structures, MR is sometimes needed to adequately diagnose pathology of the PLC, especially when there is no dislocation or disruption on CT. A Interpedicular distance measured from the closest point of the medial aspect of both pedicles. Case 6 Look at the images. Figure 1. The findings are: The morphology is of a vertebral fracture with retropulsion of a fragment, i. If compression is the main feature, then the morphology is burst, i. Secondary organ injury was assessed.