title: Universal spine fracture classification.
abstract: A prospective, multi-center study was done to establish and evaluate a system for classifying spine fractures. The classification was designed with three goals in mind: 1) that the classification be easy to use and understand, 2) that the classification allow physicians, regardless of specialty, to communicate about spine fracture, 3) and to provide spine surgeons with a standardized tool to track treatment methods vs. outcomes. The classification uses five criteria to classify an injury: 1) columns injured, 2) extent of translatory displacement, 3) extent of angulation, 4) canal compromise, and 5) percent loss of height. Using these five criteria, fractures are classified into categories A, B, or C. After five years of field testing, statistical analysis, and refining, the classification system has proven to be useful and to provide consistent, reliable classification of spine fractures.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging