Extension teardrop fracture
Last revised by Mostafa Elfeky on 7 Dec 2023
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Elfeky M, AlJahdali S, et al. Extension teardrop fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1303
Permalink:
rID:
1303
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
7 Dec 2023,
Mostafa Elfeky ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Mostafa Elfeky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Mostafa Elfeky's current disclosures
Revisions:
23 times, by
13 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Hyperextension teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop fractures
- Hyper extension teardrop fractures
- Extension tear drop fracture
- Extension tear drop fracture
Extension teardrop fracture typically occurs due to forced extension of the neck with resulting avulsion of the anteroinferior corner of the vertebral body. Extension teardrop fractures are stable in flexion and unstable in extension as the anterior longitudinal ligament is disrupted. Extension teardrop is not considered as severe as flexion teardrop fractures.
On this page:
Pathology
They occur due to forced extension of the neck (i.e. is a hyperextension injury) with resulting avulsion of the anteroinferior corner of the vertebral body.
In older patients, the C2 vertebral body is commonly affected due to degenerative ankylosis of lower levels. Associated cervical spine fractures are common.
Associations
Radiographic features
- anterior-inferior corner fracture 3
- avulsion fracture from the attachment of the anterior longitudinal ligament to the inferior corner of the vertebral body, usually a thin fracture fragment
- the fragment is triangular in a shape reminiscent of a teardrop
- vertical height of fragment is equal to or greater than width
- anterior disc space widening
Practical points
- additional fractures are common and thus, CT scan is indicated in all cases
See also
Quiz questions
{"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer","displayRelatedArticles":true,"displayNextQuestion":true,"displaySkipQuestion":true,"articleId":1303,"questionManager":null,"mcqUrl":"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/extension-teardrop-fracture-1/questions/1820?lang=us"}
References
- 1. Rao SK, Wasyliw C, Nunez DB. Spectrum of imaging findings in hyperextension injuries of the neck. Radiographics. 25 (5): 1239-54. doi:10.1148/rg.255045162 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Torretti JA, Sengupta DK. Cervical spine trauma. Indian J Orthop. 2007;41 (4): 255-67. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.36985 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 3. Dreizin D, Letzing M, Sliker CW et-al. Multidetector CT of blunt cervical spine trauma in adults. Radiographics. 2014;34 (7): 1842-65. doi:10.1148/rg.347130094 - Pubmed citation
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Flexion teardrop fracture
- Limbus vertebra
- Spinal fractures
- RANZCR key conditions assessment
- Cervical spine fractures
- Central cord syndrome
- Cervical spine radiograph (checklist)
- Intercalary bone
- Teardrop (disambiguation)
- Musculoskeletal curriculum
- Typical cervical vertebrae
- Axis (C2)
- Hyperextension cervical injuries
Cases:
- Extension teardrop fracture
- Cervical extension-teardrop fracture
- Extension tear drop fracture
- Flexion teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop fracture
- Flexion teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop fracture (x-ray)
- Extension teardrop fracture
- Flexion teardrop fracture of C2
- Extension teardrop fracture illustration
- Hyperextension teardrop fracture
- Hangman's and extension tear drop fractures
- Le Fort fractures
- Hyperextension teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop, odontoid and Chance fractures
- Cervical flexion teardrop fracture with cord haemorrhage
- Extension tear drop fracture
- Extension teardrop fracture
- Extension teardrop fracture
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Fractures
-
fracture
- terminology
- fracture location
- diaphyseal fracture
- metaphyseal fracture
- physeal fracture
- epiphyseal fracture
- fracture types
- avulsion fracture
- articular surface injuries
- complete fracture
- incomplete fracture
- infraction
- compound fracture
- pathological fracture
- stress fracture
- fracture displacement
- fracture location
- fracture healing
- skull fractures
-
facial fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
- alveolar process fractures
- frontal sinus fracture
- isolated zygomatic arch fractures
- mandibular fracture
- nasal bone fracture
- orbital blow-out fracture
- paranasal sinus fractures
- complex fractures
- dental fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
-
spinal fractures
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- AO classification of upper cervical injuries
- AO classification of subaxial injuries
- Anderson and D'Alonzo classification (odontoid fracture)
- Roy-Camille classification (odontoid process fracture)
- Gehweiler classifcation (atlas fractures)
- Levine and Edwards classification (hangman fracture)
- Allen and Ferguson classification (subaxial spine injuries)
- subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC)
- thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
- three column concept of spinal fractures (Denis classification)
- classification of sacral fractures
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- spinal fractures by region
- spinal fracture types
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
- rib fractures
- sternal fractures
-
upper limb fractures
- classification
- Rockwood classification (acromioclavicular joint injury)
- AO classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO/OTA classification of distal humeral fractures
- Milch classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Weiss classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Bado classification of Monteggia fracture-dislocations (radius-ulna)
- Mason classification (radial head fracture)
- Frykman classification (distal radial fracture)
- Mayo classification (scaphoid fracture)
- Hintermann classification (gamekeeper's thumb)
- Eaton classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- Keifhaber-Stern classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- upper limb fractures by region
- shoulder
- clavicular fracture
-
scapular fracture
- acromion fracture
- coracoid process fracture
- glenoid fracture
- humeral head fracture
- proximal humeral fracture
- humeral neck fracture
- arm
- elbow
- forearm
- wrist
-
carpal bones
- scaphoid fracture
- lunate fracture
- capitate fracture
- triquetral fracture
- pisiform fracture
- hamate fracture
- trapezoid fracture
- trapezium fracture
- hand
- shoulder
- classification
- lower limb fractures
- classification by region
- pelvic fractures
- hip fractures
- Pipkin classification (femoral head fracture)
- Garden classification (hip fracture)
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Cooke and Newman classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Johansson classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Vancouver classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- femoral
- knee
- Schatzker classification (tibial plateau fracture)
- AO classification of distal femur fractures
- Meyers and McKeevers classification (anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture)
- tibia/fibula
- Watson-Jones classification (tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture)
- ankle
- foot
- Berndt and Harty classification (osteochondral lesions of the talus)
- Sanders CT classification (calcaneal fracture)
- Hawkins classification (talar neck fracture)
- Myerson classification (Lisfranc injury)
- Nunley-Vertullo classification (Lisfranc injury)
- pelvis and lower limb fractures by region
- pelvic fracture
- sacral fracture
- coccygeal fracture
-
hip
- acetabular fracture
- femoral head fracture
-
femoral neck fracture
- subcapital fracture
- transcervical fracture
- basicervical fracture
-
trochanteric fracture
- pertrochanteric fracture
- intertrochanteric fracture
- subtrochanteric fracture
- femur
- mid-shaft fracture
- bisphosphonate-related fracture
- distal femoral fracture
- knee
- avulsion fractures
- Segond fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture (MCL avulsion fracture)
- patellar fracture
- tibial plateau fracture
- avulsion fractures
- leg
- tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture
- tibial shaft fracture
- fibular shaft fracture
- Maisonneuve fracture
- ankle
- foot
- tarsal bones
- metatarsal bones
- phalanges
- classification by region
- terminology
Related articles: Spinal trauma
-
spinal fractures
- morphology
- fractures by location
- cervical spine fracture
- thoracolumbar spine fracture
- sacral fracture
- classifications
- AO spine classification systems
- three column concept of spinal fractures (Denis classification)
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- upper cervical spine
- AO Spine classification of upper cervical injuries
- occipital condyle and occipital cervical junction
- atlas (C1) and C1-2 joint
- axis (C2) and C2-3 joint
- Roy-Camille classification (dens)
- Anderson and D'Alonzo classification (dens)
- Levine and Edwards classification (pars interarticularis)
- subaxial cervical spine
- upper cervical spine
- thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
- classifications of sacral fractures
- facet dislocation
- listhesis
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.