L-spine - Unstable fracture - Lateral

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L-spine - Unstable fracture - Lateral

  • There is loss of vertebral body height anteriorly indicating anterior column injury
  • Additional loss of alignment of the posterior vertebral bodies indicates middle column injury
  • Injury to 2 columns indicates potential instability
  • Note: The clinico-radiological assessment of thoracolumbar spine stability is usually performed by experienced clinicians with the help of radiologists

L-spine - Unstable fracture - AP

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L-spine - Unstable fracture - AP

  • (Same patient as image above)
  • This AP image shows loss of definition of the superior endplate cortex at the level of the fracture
  • AP images are not usually helpful in assessing stability

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

Last reviewed: November 2018