Spontaneously occurring fractures of the spine in skeletally immature animals.
METHODS
Twelve spontaneously occurring fractures of the spin in nine skeletally immature animals were investigated.


OBJECTIVE
These fractures were analyzed radiographically, morphologically, and histologically.


BACKGROUND
The most commonly injured regions were the cervical and lumbar regions. Multiple-level fractures were noted in three specimens.


METHODS
Morphologic and histologic examination invariably detected fractures in cases of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality.


RESULTS
The end-plate physes and synchondroses were found to be the "weak links" for propagation of fractures. Radiographically benign-appearing ring apophyseal fractures were found histologically to propagate from the end-plate physis through the vertebral body via the contiguous neurocentral synchondroses.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed morphologic and histologic fracture patterns should provide a better understanding of the probable comparable pathoanatomy of spine and spinal cord injuries in children.
O'Neal
M L
ML
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
Lord
M J
MJ
Ganey
T M
TM
Ogden
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000293:injuries*; D000866:Antelopes / Q000293:injuries; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000293:injuries; D002162:Camelus / Q000293:injuries; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003104:Colobus / Q000293:injuries; D008116:Lizards / Q000293:injuries; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000293:injuries; D011821:Raccoons / Q000293:injuries; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*