Given the morphology of injury is of a compressive fracture, neurology was intact and there was edema in the interspinous ligaments only, TLICS score would be </= 3. This patient was treated non operatively.

Although the fracture of the spinous process and edema in the interspinous ligaments suggested a flexion-distraction injury (Chance fracture), there were no fractures of the pedicles and transverse processes. The ligaments were not clearly torn and there was no convincing distraction posteriorly. This injury was thus regarded as stable.

Follow up plain films at 2 months showed no significant change.