rotation injury of the spine

Last reviewed 01/2018

Most injuries involve a combination of forces rather than simply sagital or vertical force. Many flexion injuries involve rotation, particularly those caused by falls onto the head and neck.

Rotation with flexion is accompanied by dislocation of one or more facet joints, whilst rotation with compression may additionally be accompanied by fracture of the vertebral body. Rotation with extension produces complex fractures of the pedicle and the pars interarticularis.