Thoracolumbar spine fracture classification

• Percutaneous Reduction and Fixation for Traumatic Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fracture Using a Monoaxial Screw System
• Risk factors for mechanical complications following spondylectomy of thoracolumbar primary spinal column tumors
• Alternative Strategies to Generate Class Activation Maps Supporting AI-based Advice in Vertebral Fracture Detection in X-ray Images
• Development and testing of an animal-specific and string-of-pearls (SOP) plate specific, three-dimensionally (3D) printed drilling guide: A proof of concept study for canine thoracolumbar spinal stabilization
• Risk factors of neurologic deficit after thoracolumbar burst fracture
• Endoscopic Decompression Combined With Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for AOSpine A3 or A4 Thoracolumbar Fractures With Neurological Deficits: A Retrospective Cohort Study
• Outcome characteristics of surgical management of single-level junctional thoracolumbar fractures by short segment posterior transpedicular fixation in selected patients
• Single-Stage Posterior Unilateral Transpedicular Corpectomy With Circumferential Reconstructive Stabilization for the Treatment of Severe Thoracic and Lumbar Complete Burst Fractures

There have been attempts in the past to classify thoracolumbar spine fractures in different ways: according to mechanisms of injury ¹⁾ , differentiating between flexion and distraction injuries ^{2) 3) 4) 5)}.

see Thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score.

see AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classification system.

A widely used model for thoracolumbar spine stability is the 3 column of Denis.

see Denis Classification and Three column model.

see McAfee classification.

see Magerl classification of thoracolumbar spinal fractures.

Involve only a part of a column and do not lead to acute instability (when not accompanied by major injuries). Includes:

1. fracture of the transverse process: usually neurologically intact except in two areas:

a) L4–5→lumbosacral plexus injuries (there may be associated with renal injuries, check U/A for blood)

b) T1–2→brachial plexus injuries

2. fracture of articular process or pars interarticularis

3. isolated fractures of the spinous process: in the TL spine: these are usually due to direct trauma. Often difficult to detect on plain X-ray

4. isolated laminar fracture: rare. Should be stable

The McAfee classification describes 6 main types of fractures ⁶⁾. A simplified system with four categories follows

Pediatric Thoracolumbar Spine Fracture