Presentation
Struck by a falling object.
Patient Data
Horizontal fracture through the spinous process and both pedicles of D11.
Horizontal fracture through the spinous process and both inferior articular processes of D10.
Mild anterior wedging of the D11 and D12 vertebras.
The feature suggests a chance-type fracture.
Bone marrow oedema seen in the upper endplate of D11 and D12 extending to their posterior element.
Interruption of the supraspinous ligament.
High signal intensity of the interspinous process.
Interruption of the ligamentum flavum.
Soft tissue oedema overlying the lower dorsal spine.
Case Discussion
Chance fracture is an unstable type of fracture resulting from flexion-distraction thoracolumbar injury.