title: Radiology of acute thoracic and lumbar spine injuries.
abstract: Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures typically involve high velocity trauma such as road traffic collisions, falls from height or sporting accidents, and are a major cause of spinal injury. Plain radiographs remain the first-line investigation, but interpretation can be difficult because of the variety of injury patterns and sometimes subtle radiographic signs. This article reviews the normal anatomy, systematic interpretation of thoracic and lumbar radiographs and typical injury patterns.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackburn BB2 3HH.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: S H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D011859:Radiography; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*