title: Non-contiguous spinal fractures.
abstract: A retrospective review of 817 spinal fracture patients revealed a 6.4% (52/817) incidence of non-contiguous spine fractures. Seventy-three per cent of the non-contiguous injuries were comprised of combinations of injuries in the cervical and thoracic regions or in the thoracic and lumbar regions. Forty-five per cent of fractures were a combination of compression fractures, 40% a combination of a compression fracture and a major spine fracture (i.e., one more likely to cause a neurologic deficit), and 15% a combination of major fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Keenen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000145:classification*