The management of spinal fractures

Abstract

Spinal injuries are common, ranging from minor ligamentous injury or spinous process fracture to fractures of the vertebral body and posterior elements and ligamentous injury, resulting in injury to the spinal cord. Understanding the epidemiology, anatomy, biomechanics and classification of spinal injuries is important. The aim of this article is to describe the aetiology of fractures, investigations to aid the diagnosis and management options available and different factors that influence the management.