Teardrop fracture

Extension Teardrop Fractures of the cervical spine are subaxial cervical spine fractures caused by forced extension of the neck with resulting avulsion of the anteroinferior corner of the vertebral body.

Flexion teardrop fractures represent a fracture pattern occurring in severe axial/flexion injury of the cervical spine. They are important to recognize because they indicate an extensive underlying ligamentous injury and spinal instability.