The document discusses the anatomy and clinical features of spinal fractures. It begins with the anatomy of the vertebral column and its supporting ligaments. It then discusses the classification, mechanisms of injury, and clinical features of spinal fractures. Diagnosis involves history, physical exam including neurological exam, and imaging studies like x-rays, CT scans, and MRI to identify fractures and spinal cord injuries. Management aims to prevent secondary injury through immobilization of the spine.

1. Done by malika hameed
Supervision by dr - Anwer Naif
Group D
Spine
fractur
e

2. Clinical Anatomy
• Vertebral Column:
– Extends from skull
to the pelvis
– 33 total vertebrae:
• Superiorly: 24
individual vertebrae
(separated by
intervertebral discs)
• Inferiorly: 9 fuse to
form 2 composite
bones
– Sacrum (5)
– Coccyx (4)

3. Clinical Anatomy
• Vertebral Column:
– Functions:
1. Transmits weight
of the trunk to the
lower limbs
2. Surrounds/protect
s spinal cord
3. Attachment point
for the ribs and
muscles of neck
and back

4. Vertebral Anatomy
Body
2 Lamina
Spinous
process
2 Transverse
process
2 Pedicle
Facet joints

5. Vertebral Anatomy

7. Vertebral Anatomy

8. • Intervertebral Discs:
– 23 intervertebral discs
– No disc between skull and C1 or between
C1-C2
– Discs are thickest in the lumbar vertebrae
and cervical regions (enhances flexibility)
• Functions:
– Shock absorbers
• walking, jumping, running
– Allow spine to bend
– At points of compression, the discs flatten
out and bulge out a bit between the
vertebrae
Vertebral Anatomy

9. Clinical Anatomy

10. Clinical Anatomy
• Major Supporting
Ligaments
– Anterior Longitudinal
Ligament
– runs vertically along
anterior surface of
vertebral bodies
• Neck - Sacrum
• Attaches strongly to both
vertebrae and
intervertebral discs (very
wide)
• Prevents back
hyperextension

11. Clinical Anatomy
• Major Supporting
Ligaments
– *Posterior Longitudinal
Ligament
– - runs vertically along
posterior surfaces of
vertebral bodies
• Narrower, weaker
• Attaches to
intervertebral discs
• Prevents hyperflexion

12. • Major Supporting Ligaments
– Ligamentum Flavum - strong
ligament that connects the
laminae of the vertebrae
• Protects the neural elements
and the spinal cord
• Stabilizes the spine to prevent
excessive vertebral body
motion
• Strongest of the spinal
ligaments
• Forms the posterior wall of the
spinal canal with the laminae
• Stretches with forward
bending / recoils in erect
position
Clinical Anatomy

13. Clinical Anatomy
sporting Ligaments
– Intertransverse Ligament
- located between the
transverse processes
• Cervical region:
consist of a few
irregular, scattered
fibers
• Thoracic region:
rounded cords
connected with deep
muscles of the back
• Lumbar region: thin
and membranous

14. Clinical Anatomy
Supporting
Ligaments
– Interspinal Ligament
- connect spinous
processes (spans the
entire process)
• Meets the
ligamentum
flavum in front
and the
supraspinal
ligament behind

15. Clinical Anatomy
Supporting Ligaments
– Supraspinal Ligament
-connects together the
apexes of the spinous
processes
• Extends from 7th
cervical vertebra to
sacrum
• Strong fibrous cord
• At points of attachment
(tips of the spinous
processes) fibrocartilage
is developed in the
ligament
Supraspinal
Ligament

16. Clinical Anatomy

17. vertebral column

18. Significance
Unstable
if middle column + either Anterior or Posterior column
is damaged
Rupture of interspinous ligament is :
- associated with avulsion of spinous process
- Unstable spine
- Further flexion increases neurological injury

19. • Cervical 40%
• Thoracic 10%
• Lumbar 3%
• Dorso lumbar
35%
Incidence :-
-More in males 20-40 (more
exposure to mechanism of
injury) .
Most frequently injured spinal regions
C5-C7 (Mid cervical)
C1-C2 (Upper cervical)
T12-L2 (Dorso-lumbar)

20. Mechanism of injury

21. :
Penetrating trauma as
knives bullets.
Or blunt trauma as car
accident
I. Direct trauma

22. :
A. Hyper-flexion trauma:
-Fall in bent position.
-Deceleration.
II-indirect Trauma
-Wedge fracture
-Stable
-No spinal cord
injury

23. B- Hyper-extension injuries
-sudden acceleration
Blow on forehead-
INCLUDE
hangman’s #
# of arch of atlas and axis
ant. Longitudinal tear
-stable except hangman fracture-
-Spinal cord may be damage

24. C- compression trauma
-fall from height on foot .
-Fall on head
-fall something on head
-burst fracture
-Stable #
-No spinal nerve
injury

25. D-Shearing (specially rotation)
-rotation cause ligaments Damage
, usually associated with flexion.
As:
-Fall from height with the body twisted
Or
Weight fall asymmetrically onto the back
**Wedge shape # with shearing
of posterior ligament.
spinal usually affect
unstable #

26. Denis classification
1.Compression fracture (wedge)
2.Flexion compression (Burst)
3.Flexion distraction
4.(Seat belt fracture, Chance fr.)
5.Fracture Dislocation

27. Classification
• I- according to morphology
• II- according to stability

28. I- according to morphology
1. Wedge compression fracture:
Hyper-flexion trauma crushes the vertebral body into the shape of a wedge.
2. Fracture dislocation:
Commonly there is damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
3. Dislocation:
Pure dislocation without fracture is common in cervical vertebrae because its
articular processes are rather horizontal.
4. Comminuted (burst) fracture:
This is an uncommon injury due to vertical compression of the straight spine
.
5. Avulsion fractures of transverse and spinous
processes:
Not accompanied by neurological injury and require no special
treatment.

29. II- according to stability
1-Stable fractures: Have intact posterior
ligaments, e.g., wedge compression,
comminuted and avulsion fracture of the
transverse and spinous processes.
2-Unstable fractures: Have torn posterior
ligaments and are liable to injure the
cord and nerve roots, these include fracture
dislocation and pure dislocations

30. Spinal cord injury

31. classification
I- According to injury
1-Primary injuries
Occur at time of trauma.
2-Secondary injuries
Occur later due to:
-Swelling
-Ischemia
-Movement of bony fragments

32. Type of injury:
Concussed
Contused
Compressed
Lacerated
Severity of injuries depends on:
Amount and type of force
Duration of injury

33. II – According to neurology DAMAGE
Complete Cord Lesions –
Death --aboveC4
-Quadriplegia  below C4
-Paraplegia  thoracic or lumbar level
Incomplete Cord Lesions -
mixed loss
- Anterior sc syndrome
- Posterior sc syndrome
- Central cord syndrome
- Brown sequard’s syndrome
- Cauda equina syndrome

34. Incomplete cord lesion:
1-Central cord syndrome
Flaccid weakness of arm and spastic
weakness of the leg
2- anterior cord syndrome
complete loss of muscle strength below the
level of injury
loss pain and temperature
3-brown sequard syndrome
Motor deficit on side of lesion while sensory
deficit on the other side
4-Posterior cord syndrome
Loose of light touch and
proprioception

35. Diagnosis :

36. History
• Mechanism of injury
• Position of the patient when found
• Transient motor or sensory loss
• Paradoxical breathing
• Seat belt

37. Physical examination
• A- General examination:
- -Vital sign
- -Look for missed injury
- -look for associated fracture

38. B-Local examination:
Inspection:
Abrasion - hematoma- deformity
Soft tissue swelling and bruising
Palpation :
Point of spinal tenderness
Gap or Step-off
Spasm of associated muscles
DON’T MOVE
C- neurological
examination
1-Dermatome and
myotome.
2- superficial and deep
reflex .

39. Is the patient awake or
“unexaminable”?
• What’s the difference ?
– Awake
• ask/answer question
• pain/tenderness
• motor/sensory exam
– Not awake
• you can ask (but they won’t answer)
• can’t assess tenderness
• no motor/sensory exam
OW!
------

40. “Unexaminable”
≠
“No exam”

41. Neurogenic Shock
• Temporary loss of autonomic function of the
cord at the level of injury
– results from cervical or high thoracic injury
• Presentation
– Flaccid paralysis distal to injury site
– Loss of autonomic function
• hypotension
• vasodilatation
• loss of bladder and bowel control
• loss of thermoregulation
• warm, pink, dry below injury site
• bradycardia

42. 42
Neurogenic Hypovolemic
Etiology Loss of sympathetic
outflow
Loss of blood volume
Blood
pressure
Hypotension Hypotension
Heart rate Bradycardia Tachycardia
Skin
temperature
Warm Cold
Urine
output
Normal Low
Comparison of neurogenic and
hypovolemic shock

43. Cervical Spine Imaging Options
– Plain films
• AP, lateral and open mouth view
– Optional: Oblique and Swimmer’s
– CT
• Better for occult fractures
– MRI
• Very good for spinal cord, soft tissue and
ligamentous injuries
– Flexion-Extension Plain Films
• to determine stability

44. Radiolographic evaluation
X-ray Guidelines (cervical)
ABCDS
• Adequacy, Alignment
• Bone abnormality, Base of skull
• Cartilage
• Disc space
• Soft tissue

45. Adequacy
• Must visualize entire C-spine
• A film that does not show the
upper border of T1 is
inadequate
• Caudal traction on the arms
may help
• If can not, get swimmer’s view
or CT

46. Swimmer’s view

47. Alignment
• The anterior vertebral line,
posterior vertebral line, and
spinolaminar line should
have a smooth curve with
no steps or discontinuities
• Malalignment of the
posterior vertebral bodies is
more significant than that
anteriorly, which may be
due to rotation
• A step-off of >3.5mm is
significant anywhere

48. Lateral Cervical Spine X-Ray
• Anterior subluxation of
one vertebra on another
indicates facet
dislocation
–< 50% of the width of a
vertebral body 
unilateral facet
dislocation
–> 50%  bilateral facet
dislocation

49. Bones

50. Disc
• Disc Spaces
– Should be
uniform
• Assess spaces
between the
spinous
processes

51. Soft tissue
• Nasopharyngeal space
(C1)
– 10 mm (adult)
• Retropharyngeal space
(C2-C4)
– 5-7 mm
• Retrotracheal space
(C5-C7)
– 14 mm (children)
– 22 mm (adults)

52. AP C-spine Films
• Spinous processes
should line up
• Disc space should be
uniform
• Vertebral body height
should be uniform.
Check for oblique
fractures.

53. Open mouth view
• Adequacy: all of: all of
the dens andthe dens and
lateral borders oflateral borders of
C1 & C2C1 & C2
• Alignment: lateral: lateral
masses of C1 andmasses of C1 and
C2C2
• Bone: Inspect dens
for lucent fracture
lines

54. CT Scan
• Thin cut CT scan should
be used to evaluate
abnormal, suspicious or
poorly visualized areas
on plain film
• The combination of plain
film and directed CT scan
provides a false negative
rate of less than 0.1%

55. MRI
• Ideally all patients
with abnormal
neurological
examination
should be
evaluated with MRI
scan

56. Management
• Primary Goal
– Prevent secondary injury
• Immobilization of the spine begins in the initial
assessment
– Treat the spine as a long bone
• Secure joint above and below
– Caution with “partial” spine splinting

57. Management
PREHOSPITAL
HOSPITAL
POST HOSPITAL

58. Goal of spine trauma care
• Protect further injury during evaluation and
management
• Identify spine injury or document absence of
spine injury
• Optimize conditions for maximal neurologic
recovery

59. Goal of spine trauma care
• Maintain or restore spinal alignment
• Minimize loss of spinal mobility
• Obtain healed & stable spine
• Facilitate rehabilitation

60. Pre-hospital management
1- ensure the ventilation and circulation
:2- CAREFUL transportation OF PATIENT if
we Suspect Spinal Injury
When should we Suspect Spinal Injury
-High speed crash
-Unconscious
-Multiple injuries
-Neurological deficit
-Spinal pain/tenderness

61. • PROTECTION  PRIORITY
• Detection  Secondary
• Up to 15% of spinal injuries have a second
(possibly non adjacent) fracture elsewhere in the
spine
• Ideally, whole spine should be immobilized in
neutral position on a firm surface

67. Clinical assessment
• Advance Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
guidelines
• Primary and secondary surveys
• Adequate airway and ventilation are the
most important factors
• Supplemental oxygenation
• Early intubation is critical to limit secondary
injury from hypoxia

69. Principle of treatment
• Spinal alignment
– deformity/subluxation/dislocation reduction
• Spinal column stability
– unstable  stabilization
• Neurological status
– neurological deficit  decompression

70. Stable # :
-no reduction
-immobilization with cervical
collar or
plaster jacket for 4-6 weeks .

71. Unstable #
Unstable cervical #
1- reduction
-close reduction : by skull traction –skin traction
or manipulation
Open reduction
2- fixation:
By cervical collar or halo vest(6-12 weeks)
or internal fixation
or post fusion.

73. Unstable lumbar #
1- reduction:
By gradual postural reduction  by use of pillow or
sand bags under appropriate spinal level for 12 weeks
or
Open reduction
2- immoilization:
By plaster jacket or
By internal fixation

77. Local management
-Restore alignment
-Decompress
neural damage
-Stabilize the spine
by fixation and
fusion
-Allow early
mobilization
-Restore alignment by traction
Decompress not retard - recovery
or decrease further injury
-No need for stabilization  most
injury stable
-Mobilization achieved by active
physiotherapy in confined bed pt

78. General management
1- care of skin:
-Trophic ulcer
-Skin keep dry by regular washing and powder
2- care of bladder:
Decompress by catheter-
Antibiotics if infection occurred
3- care of bowel:
By evacuation by enema and giving low residual diet
4- care of muscles and joints:
By passive movement twice daily

79. complication
• 1- Spinal cord and/or root injury including roots
of cauda spina
• 2- Shock may be:
• a- Spinal shock
• - Sympathatic affection leading to loss of
vascular tone & bradycardia
• - loss of muscle tone ) venous pooling &
hypovolemia
• b- Hemorrhage lead to true hypovolemia

80. FRECTURE OF
CERVICAL

81. Jefferson Fracture
• Burst fracture of C1 ring
• Unstable fracture
• Increased lateral ADI on
lateral film if ruptured
transverse ligament and
displacement of C1 lateral
masses on open mouth view
• Need CT scan

82. the key radiographic view is
the AP open mouth
Jefferson Fracture

83. Burst Fracture
• Fracture of C3-C7 from
axial loading
• Spinal cord injury is
common from posterior
displacement of fragments
into the spinal canal
• Unstable

84. Clay Shoveler’s Fracture
• Flexion fracture of
spinous process
• C7>C6>T1
• Stable fracture

85. Flexion Teardrop Fracture
• Flexion injury causing a
fracture of the
• anteroinferior portion
of the vertebral body
• Unstable because
usually associated with
posterior ligamentous
injury

86. Bilateral Facet Dislocation
• Flexion injury
• Subluxation of dislocated
vertebra of greater than
½ the AP diameter of the
vertebral body below it
• High incidence of spinal
cord injury
• Extremely unstable

87. Hangman’s Fracture
• Extension injury
• Bilateral fractures of
C2 pedicles
(white arrow)
• Anterior dislocation of
C2 vertebral body
(red arrow)
• Unstable

89. Odontoid Fractures
• Complex mechanism of injury
• Generally unstable
• Type 1 fracture through the tip
– Rare
• Type 2 fracture through the base
– Most common
• Type 3 fracture through the base into body
of axis
– Best prognosis

90. Odontoid fracture Type I
fracture in superior tip of
the odontoid.
potentially unstable.
It is a relatively rare
fracture.

91. Odontoid Fracture Type II

92. Odontoid Fracture Type III

94. • This is an example of dens type III fracture.
The first image is an odontoid view, which
shows the fracture line extending beyond the
base of the dens.
• The second image is a CT that confirms the
fracture in the body of C2

95. Question
Which of the following fractures is caused by
hyperextension?
Jefferson fracture.
Hangman's fracture.
Teardrop fracture.

96. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION