title: [Imaging diagnosis of the vertebral injury in earthquake].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical value of imaging diagnosis of the vertebral injury in earthquake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two cases of the vertebral injury in earthquake with clinical and imaging data were analyzed retrospectively. All of the cases were performed X-ray plain film examination, CT in 20 cases and MRI in 15 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Imaging examination can establish definitive diagnosis in all cases. In the 22 cases, the vertebral compression fracture was found in 20 cases, and vertebral bursting fracture in 2 cases,single-level vertebral fracture in 12 case,and multiple-level vertebral fracture in 10 case. Among the 31 vertebral bodies of fracture, the fracture of cervical vertebra, thoracic vertebra, lumbar vertebra and sacral vertebra was found in 3, 12, 14, 2 vertebral bodies, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging examination is the most valuable examination method in diagnosis of the vertebral injury in earthquake. It can not only make definitive diagnosis, but also play an important role in selection of therapeutic method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yue-yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Li-guang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Qing-rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*