Burst fracture

Last revised by Bahman Rasuli on 11 Apr 2022

Burst fractures are a type of compression fracture related to high-energy axial loading spinal trauma that results in disruption of a vertebral body endplate and the posterior vertebral body cortex. Retropulsion of posterior cortex fragments into the spinal canal is frequently included in the definition. However, some authors, including the popular AO spine classification system, define a burst fracture as any axial compression fracture involving an endplate and the posterior cortex regardless of retropulsion 6.

They usually present as back pain and or lower limbs neurologic deficits in the clinical scenario of trauma.

Burst fractures most commonly occur at L1 with the majority (~90%) occurring from T9-L5. Two-level burst fractures are much less common than single-level burst fractures 2. Burst fractures involve the posterior wall of the vertebral body can be described as incomplete (one endplate) or complete (both endplates) 5.

See: AO spine classification of thoracolumbar injuries.

It is a result of a high-energy compressive injury (axial loading), much like the Jefferson fracture. The intervertebral disc is driven into the vertebral body below.

Typically they occur following a fall from height (often landing on feet) or from a motor vehicle accident 2

General features include 2,5:

  • loss of vertebral height on lateral views: anterior portion is commonly compressed more than the posterior portion of the vertebral body
  • fracture always involves the posterior vertebral body cortex
  • burst vertebral body on axial CT
  • vertical fracture through the posterior elements is usually present in more severe trauma
  • interpedicular widening
  • bone fragment retropulsion into the spinal canal may occur
  • all patients require a CT to assess the injury and evaluate the extent of the retropulsed fragments which may enter the spinal canal, and a percentage of spinal canal narrowing should be reported
  • caution must be taken when referring to stability on the report, as this should be assessed together with the clinical data ref
  • other types of compression fracture: posterior vertebral body cortex is intact
  • Chance fracture
  • butterfly vertebra: well corticated congenital division of vertebrae seen on coronal images; no antecedent trauma history

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