It is usually caused by high-energy trauma such as a car crash, fall, sports accident, or violent act (for example, a gunshot wound). People with osteoporosis, tumors, or other underlying conditions that weaken bone can get a spinal fracture with minimal trauma or normal activities of daily living.
Doctors classify fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine based upon pattern of injury.
- Compression fracture. While the front (anterior) of the vertebra breaks and loses height, the back (posterior) part of it does not. This type of fracture is usually stable and is rarely associated with neurologic problems.
- Axial burst fracture. The vertebra loses height on both the front and back sides. It is often caused by a fall from a height when a person lands on their feet.
- Flexion/distraction (Chance) fracture. The vertebra is literally pulled apart (distraction). This can happen in accidents such as a head-on car crash, in which the upper body is thrown forward while the pelvis is stabilized by a lap seat belt.
- Transverse process fracture. This fracture results from rotation or extreme sideways (lateral) bending and usually does not affect stability.
- Fracture-dislocation. This is an unstable injury involving bone and/or soft tissue, in which one vertebra may move off the adjacent one (displaced).
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