L-spine - Insufficiency fractures - Lateral

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L-spine - Insufficiency fractures - Lateral

  • There are depressed endplates at multiple levels
  • These 'insufficiency' fractures are common in individuals with osteoporosis
  • Note the low bone density

L-spine - Anterior column fractures - Lateral

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L-spine - Anterior column fractures - Lateral

  • Some lumbar spine fractures are subtle and result only in minor loss of vertebral body height
  • Always compare the height of a vertebral body with that of the levels above and below a suspected fracture

L-spine - Transverse process fracture - AP

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L-spine - Transverse process fracture - AP

  • Fractures of the transverse processes are often very subtle

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: November 2018