title: [Extension injury of th-L spine (case history).].
abstract: Out of 160 injuries of Th-L spine operated on only two were of extension type. In the first case it was a pure posterior displacement of L 1-2into extension with the angle of lordotization 20 degrees and complete paraplegia. From the viewpoint of classification this injury may be included in group B 3.3 according to AO/ASIF classification. With regard to an extreme post-injury displacement which at first glance is similar to the "seatbelt fracture" after Denis classification we would suggest to call this injury "reverse seat-belt fracture". The treatment consisted in the reduction and monosegmental instrumentation. The neurological deficit is permanent. The second case was a fracture of extension type in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis (morbus Bechterev). The patient was treated by monosegmental instrumentation. The initial incomplete neurological deficit improved in the course of several weeks (Frankel D). With regard to the fact that the fracture line was passing anteriorly through the vertebral body, this injury cannot be clasified according to AO/ASIF classification. Extension injuries are rare injuries and with regard to their low frequency of incidence the classification schemes more or less neglect them. Key words: Th-L spine, injuries, extension injury, classification.
authors.affiliation: Ortopedicko-traumatologická klinika 3. LF UK a FNKV, Praha.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krbec
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stulík