Mechanisms of spinal injury
|
Stability
|
Flexion
|
Anterior wedge fracture
|
Stable |
Flexion teardrop fracture
|
Extremely unstable |
Clay shoveler's fracture
|
Stable |
Subluxation
|
Potentially unstable |
Bilateral facet dislocation
|
Always unstable |
Atlanto-occipital dislocation
|
Unstable |
Anterior atlantoaxial dislocation with or without fracture
|
Unstable |
Odontoid fracture with lateral displacement
|
Unstable |
Fracture of transverse process
|
Stable |
Flexion-rotation
|
Unilateral facet dislocation
|
Stable |
Rotary atlantoaxial dislocation
|
Unstable |
Extension
|
Posterior neural arch fracture (C1)
|
Unstable |
Hangman's fracture (C2)
|
Unstable |
Extension teardrop fracture
|
Usually stable in flexion; unstable in extension |
Posterior atlantoaxial dislocation with or without fracture
|
Unstable |
Vertical compression
|
Burst fracture of vertebral body
|
Stable |
Jefferson fracture (C1)
|
Extremely unstable |
Isolated fractures of articular pillar and vertebral body
|
Stable |