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The Basic Types of Spine Frx & their Mechanisms

The Basic Types of Spine Frx & their Mechanisms


Type  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mechanism
Compression  
 
 
 
 
 
Flexion
 
 
anterior  
 
 
 
 
 
 
anterior flexion
 
 
lateral  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
lateral flexion
Burst  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Axial load
 
A  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
axial load  
 
 
 
 
- both end plates
 
B  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
axial load+flexion  
- superior end plate
 
C  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
axial load+flexion  
- inferior end plate
 
D  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
axial load+rotation  
- rotation
 
E  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
axial load+lat. flex.- lat. wedgin of vert. body
Seat Belt  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flexion Distraction
Fracture Dislocation
 
Flexion-Rotation  
 
 
Flexion-Rotation
 
Shear  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shear (AP or PA)
Flexion Distraction  
 
Flexion Distraction
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The Basic Types of Spinal Fractures and the Columns Involved in Each
Type of Fractures  
Ant. column  
 
 
Middle column  
Post. column

Compression  
 
 
 
Compression  
 
 
None  
 
 
 
 
 
None or distraction in
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
severe fractures
Burst  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compression  
 
 
Compression  
 
None or distraction

Seat Belt  
 
 
 
 
None/compress.  
Distraction  
 
Distraction

Fx/dislocate  
 
 
 
Compression &  
 
Distract & /  
 
Distraction &/or


Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.