SPINAL CASES
Diagnosis: C5 vertebral body fracture with posterior subluxation and retropulsion
Posterior spinal line
Diagnosis: C2 vertebral body fracture with prevertebral soft tissue swelling
Soft tissues more than half the bodywidth
Soft tissues are thicker at C2 than at C4
Diagnosis: C2 (odontoid peg) fracture with posterior displacement
Diagnosis: C2 / C3 displacement in child. This ended up being positional.
Why the soft tissue swelling and malalignment?
Soft tissues swelling: Prominent adenoids and other pharyngeal lymphatic tissue in front of C1, C2, C3 is normal in a child.
Malalignment:Ligaments are more flexible in children, and they are less compliant with positioning. Beware false positives (this required a CT to be safe).
Diagnosis: Thoracolumbar crush fractures. Bones obscured but alignment is wrong.
Diagnosis: Extension teardrop fracture C3. “Avulsion” of ant. longitudinal ligament
Diagnosis: C7 spinous process fracture
Diagnosis: Hangman’s fracture. C2 bilateral pedicle fracture.
Diagnosis: Jefferson fracture. C1 ant. And post. Ring fractures.
Wide C1/C2 interval
Diagnosis: Bilateral facet dislocations, “perched”.
Normal facetjoints
Perched facets
Diagnosis: Chance fracture (“lapbelt injury”).
Chance fractures involve the anterior and posterior elements.
Hyperflexion injuries usually related to lapbelts in MVAs. Note the loss of pedicle outlines on the frontal projection.
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