Abstract
Study Design. Retrospective analysis. Objective. To analyze the types of orthopedic spine fractures sustained by North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldiers when vehicles are attacked by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with specific focus on the flexion-distraction type thoracolumbar fracture (Chance fracture). Summary of Background Data. Operation Enduring Freedom is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's effort in Afghanistan. IED attacks on armored vehicles are common and account for high proportion of soldiers' deaths and injuries. Methods. Retrospective record review was accomplished on soldiers admitted to a military hospital with orthopedic spine fractures after IED attacks on vehicles from January 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008. Thoracolumbar fractures were classified using the McAfee classification system. Results. Twelve male patients with 16 thoracolumbar fractures were identified (3 patients with multiple fractures). The 16 thoracolumbar fractures included 6 flexion-distraction fractures in 5 patients (38%, 6/16: two T12, two L1, one L3, and one L4), 7 compression fractures in 5 patients (44%, 5/16; one T7, one T8, two L1, one L2, one L3, and one L4), and 3 burst fractures (19%, 3/16; two L1 and one L2). Conclusion. The incidence of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar (Chance) fractures has been reported to be between 1.0% and 2.5% in most spine fracture series. In this small study, Chance fractures represented 38% of all tho-racolumbar fractures sustained after IED attack on armored vehicles. The blast pattern associated with IED explosion may be responsible for the high rate of these injuries in vehicle occupants.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2400-2405 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Spine |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 15 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Chance fracture
- improvised explosive device
- military
- thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Cite this
Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine sustained by soldiers in vehicles attacked by improvised explosive devices. / Ragel, Brian T.; Allred, C. Dain; Brevard, Sid; Davis, Richard T.; Frank, Edmund H.
In: Spine, Vol. 34, No. 22, 15.10.2009, p. 2400-2405.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine sustained by soldiers in vehicles attacked by improvised explosive devices
AU - Ragel, Brian T.
AU - Allred, C. Dain
AU - Brevard, Sid
AU - Davis, Richard T.
AU - Frank, Edmund H.
PY - 2009/10/15
Y1 - 2009/10/15
N2 - Study Design. Retrospective analysis. Objective. To analyze the types of orthopedic spine fractures sustained by North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldiers when vehicles are attacked by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with specific focus on the flexion-distraction type thoracolumbar fracture (Chance fracture). Summary of Background Data. Operation Enduring Freedom is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's effort in Afghanistan. IED attacks on armored vehicles are common and account for high proportion of soldiers' deaths and injuries. Methods. Retrospective record review was accomplished on soldiers admitted to a military hospital with orthopedic spine fractures after IED attacks on vehicles from January 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008. Thoracolumbar fractures were classified using the McAfee classification system. Results. Twelve male patients with 16 thoracolumbar fractures were identified (3 patients with multiple fractures). The 16 thoracolumbar fractures included 6 flexion-distraction fractures in 5 patients (38%, 6/16: two T12, two L1, one L3, and one L4), 7 compression fractures in 5 patients (44%, 5/16; one T7, one T8, two L1, one L2, one L3, and one L4), and 3 burst fractures (19%, 3/16; two L1 and one L2). Conclusion. The incidence of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar (Chance) fractures has been reported to be between 1.0% and 2.5% in most spine fracture series. In this small study, Chance fractures represented 38% of all tho-racolumbar fractures sustained after IED attack on armored vehicles. The blast pattern associated with IED explosion may be responsible for the high rate of these injuries in vehicle occupants.
AB - Study Design. Retrospective analysis. Objective. To analyze the types of orthopedic spine fractures sustained by North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldiers when vehicles are attacked by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with specific focus on the flexion-distraction type thoracolumbar fracture (Chance fracture). Summary of Background Data. Operation Enduring Freedom is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's effort in Afghanistan. IED attacks on armored vehicles are common and account for high proportion of soldiers' deaths and injuries. Methods. Retrospective record review was accomplished on soldiers admitted to a military hospital with orthopedic spine fractures after IED attacks on vehicles from January 1, 2008 to May 15, 2008. Thoracolumbar fractures were classified using the McAfee classification system. Results. Twelve male patients with 16 thoracolumbar fractures were identified (3 patients with multiple fractures). The 16 thoracolumbar fractures included 6 flexion-distraction fractures in 5 patients (38%, 6/16: two T12, two L1, one L3, and one L4), 7 compression fractures in 5 patients (44%, 5/16; one T7, one T8, two L1, one L2, one L3, and one L4), and 3 burst fractures (19%, 3/16; two L1 and one L2). Conclusion. The incidence of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar (Chance) fractures has been reported to be between 1.0% and 2.5% in most spine fracture series. In this small study, Chance fractures represented 38% of all tho-racolumbar fractures sustained after IED attack on armored vehicles. The blast pattern associated with IED explosion may be responsible for the high rate of these injuries in vehicle occupants.
KW - Chance fracture
KW - improvised explosive device
KW - military
KW - thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75549091395&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75549091395&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b7e585
DO - 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b7e585
M3 - Article
VL - 34
SP - 2400
EP - 2405
JO - Spine
JF - Spine
SN - 0362-2436
IS - 22
ER -