title: Traumatic noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To our knowledge, the presence of noncontiguous fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine occurring at two levels has not been reported. The etiology, evaluation, and treatment of the unusual injury is presented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To notify spinal traumatologists about the possibility of this unusual injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report of an unusual noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 26-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle accident where his car fell over a bridge and plummeted approximately 300 feet before hitting the ground. The patient was transported to a major medical center where he was found to be conscious, and amazingly, his only major injury was fracture-dislocations of L2-L3 and L5-S1. His preoperative neurologic status showed a partial paraparesis to all motor groups of the lower extremities bilaterally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient underwent a posterior reduction, instrumentation, and fusion from L1 to S1 with autogenous bone graft and segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. One week postoperatively, he underwent an anterior spinal fusion of L5/S1. Postoperatively, his neurologic status improved allowing him to be ambulatory, with a normal lumbosacral alignment being well-maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine is an unusual injury, which results from a very high-energy trauma. Prompt recognition of the injuries, reduction of the fracture-dislocations, and posterior stabilization is recommended for neural decompression, spinal alignment, and long-term stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University Medical Center, One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza, Suite 11300 West Pavilion, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Lawrence G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lenke
authors.forename: Darrell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanson
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome