J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2001 Sep;8(3):392-400. 10.4184/jkss.2001.8.3.392.

Mechanisms and Classifications of Thoracolumbar Fractures

• Shin BJ

• KMID: 2209762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2001.8.3.392

Abstract

The goals of treatment of thoracolumbar injuries are to provide an adequately decompressed spinal canal and painless, stable, satisfactorily aligned spinal column. To achive these goals, appropriate treatment is essential and accurate diagnosis of the spinal column injuries is the base to decide the treatment method. Classifications of fractures of the spinal column are standardly based on one of three variables: presumptive mechanism of injury, the fracture pattern and location, and the degree of fracture fragment displacement. Any classification scheme should ideally address both the skeletal and neurologic injuries, thereby offering a composite picture of the nature of any specific injury. Although there is no current classification that provides such a complete description, major advances in the catagorization of thoracolumbar injuries have occurred. Useful classifications are three column concept of Denis, comprehensive classification of Magerl et al and load sharing classification of McCormack.

Keyword

Thoracolumbar fracture; classification

MeSH Terms

Classification*
Diagnosis
Spinal Canal
Spine

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