UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Trauma

Title: Plain Film Visual Diagnosis

Keywords: fracture, spine, x-ray (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/6/2024 by Robert Flint, MD (Emailed: 9/9/2024) (Updated: 9/9/2024)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD

Question

Identify this injury and other associated injuries:

Answer

“Chance fractures also referred to as seatbelt fractures, are flexion-distraction type injuries of the spine that extend to involve all three spinal columns. These are unstable injuries and have a high association with intra-abdominal injuries. There is a high incidence of associated intra-abdominal injuries (especially the pancreas, duodenum, and abdominal aorta) that can result in increased morbidity and mortality. Associated intra-abdominal injuries appear to be more common in the pediatric age group with an incidence approaching 50%.” 2.

References

1.Chance Fracture - Medicalopedia

2. Jones J, Kogan J, Vadera S, et al. Chance fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Sep 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-10186