Four Major Types of Thoracic Spine Injuries Experienced

The thoracic spine is the upper back and is the most stable part of the spine. It is the longest section of the spine and because it has the support of the ribcage and ribs it is extremely well protected. When injuries to the thoracic spine do occur, they are caused by motor accidents, sport accidents, or violence. Most of the damage to the thoracic spine occurs in the bottom half of the thoracic spine, a doctor said.

There are four major types of thoracic spine injuries being a compression, burst, flexion-distraction, and fracture-dislocation. Of the four types, a compression spinal injury is the most common fracture in the thoracic spine. This injury occurs when the upper back is curved forward or sideways when the accident or violence occurs. When the back is bent forward, the front or side of the vertebrae is crushed in the impact. A compression injury is also called a wedge fracture, a doctor mentioned.

A burst fracture is similar to a compression fracture. However, the main difference is that the entire vertebra is crushed instead of a small portion of it. The vertebra is evenly crushed by the trauma. When a burst injury occurs, the vertebra is pushed into the spinal cord causing loss of motor, sensory, and reflex functions. It is rare for a burst fracture to occur because of the curve of the spine, but they do happen. The most common incident that causes a burst or compressed fracture is when someone falls from height and lands on their buttock or feet, a report stated.

A flexion-distraction fracture occurs when the vertebra is separated. Hyperflexion causes the injury. When a limb or part of the body is stretched beyond its normal limit, hyperflexion occurs. Just like burst fractures, a flexion-distraction fracture is uncommon but do occur. The most common incident is when a seat belt is too tight and worn too high. If no shoulder harness is used, the injury transpires, a doctor affirmed.

The last type of thoracic spine injury causes spine cord injuries. When spinal fracture-dislocations occur, adjacent vertebrae are displaced in the upper back. The only cause of this injury has to be a high-energy trauma. The dislocated vertebrae are instable and can cause paralysis. Ninety percent of individuals in Nassau and Suffolk with this type of injury above the T10 level have paralysis in their lower extremis and 60% of individuals with the injury below the T10 level usually have paralysis.

If you are suffering from one of the four major types of thoracic spine injuries, call a New York Spinal Injury Attorney today to get justice for the violence or accident that caused the fracture in your upper back. Let a NY Spinal Injury Attorney be on your