Vertebral burst fracture - L2

Case contributed by Mohamed Abdelrazik Elsayed
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Fall from height, back pain.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

X-ray of the lumbar spine shows L2 compression fracture involving the superior and inferior endplates.

CT lumbar spine shows burst compression fracture of the L2 vertebral body, involving the superior and inferior endplates and extends to the posterior vertebral body cortex, showing significant vertebral body height loss more than 90 % at the centre, associated with mild 3 mm bony retropulsion at the superior-posterior vertebral body margin with no significant spinal canal narrowing. No other fractures detected. The paraspinal soft tissues are unremarkable.

Case Discussion

This L2 burst fracture involving the anterior and middle columns involving the posterior vertebral body cortex with mild retropulsed bone segment and shows no significant spinal canal encroachment or posterior neural elements involvement.

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