- See:
Fracture Dislocations of the Spine:
Flexion Distraction Injuries:
- Discussion:
- Chance frx & posterior ligament rupture (variant of flexion distraction injury pattern) maypresent w/ minor anterior vertebral compression;
- in Chance frx, the anterior column fails in tension (along w/ the middle and posterior columns), where as flexion distraction fracture involves compression
of the anterior column and distraction of the middle and posterior columns;
- approx 1/2 of pts w/ flexion distraction injury pattern have primarily ligamentous rupture;
- rupture usually includes interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, facet capsule, posterior annulus, and thoracodorsal fascia;
- whether the injury is purely ligamentous or includes a fracture thru vertebral body, all three columns rupture in distraction (tension);
- often these are misdiagnosed as a compression frx;
- the occurance of a traumatic compression fracture in a young patient (following MVA) should raise the possibility of a Chance fracture;
- either good quality AP view is necessary to rule out posterior element injury, or a CT scan is required (if the AP view remains equivocal);
- Exam:
- seldom assoc w/ neurologic compromise unless
- abdominal injuries are common and occur in upto 50-60% of patients;
- references:
- The epidemiology of seatbelt-associated injuries.
- Radiographs:
- significant translation on lateral;
- anterior wedging may be minimal;
- often only a portion of the vertebral body will be involved (half ligamentous and half bony injury);
- look for frx line extending through spinous process, lamina, pedicles, & portion of the vertebral body;
- often the AP view will best show the posterior element injury (lamina frx will appear as a "lazy W")
- CT Scan: is often ordered to help make the diagnosis;
- Non Operative Treatment:
- Chance Frx may initially be unstable, but after 2 weeks there will be sufficient bony healing to allow fitting for an orthosis;
- patients w/ partial vertebral body involvement (half bony injury and half ligamentous injury) may be candidates for non operative treatment is alignment is acceptable;
- candidates for non operative treatment should have less than 15 deg of kyphosis;
- patients should be fitted for a custom molded hyperextension orthosis;
- fractures below L3 may require the addition of a thigh extension;
- Indications for Operative Treatment:
- w/ Ligamentous Chance Injury, soft tissue healing is unreliable, and about half of all patients treated non operatively will have poor outcomes;
- progressive kyphosis is one of the major complications w/ non-op Rx
Anterolateral compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine. A seat belt injury.
Seat-belt injuries of the spine in young children.
Pediatric Chance fractures: association with intra-abdominal injuries and seatbelt use.
Patterns and mechanisms of lumbar injuries associated with lapseat belts.