Thoracic and lumbar compression fractures
Revision as of 12:54, 24 October 2020 by Rossdonaldson1 (talk | contribs)
Thoracic and lumbar fractures (wedge)
- Only unstable if posterior ligament complex ruptures (requires a rotational force)
- Mechanism: axial loading and flexion
- Unlikely to cause cord damage
- Suspect instability and obtain CT if:
- Severe compression (>50% loss of vertebral height)
- Kyphosis >30deg
- Rotational component to injury
- Compression fracture at multiple sites
- Posterior cortex abnormality