| Spinal fracture | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Vertebral fracture, broken back |
 | |
| Lateral spine X-ray showing osteoporotic wedge fractures of L1/2 | |
A spinal fracture, also called a vertebral fracture or a broken back, is a fracture affecting the vertebrae of the spinal column. Most types of spinal fracture confer a significant risk of spinal cord injury. After the immediate trauma, there is a risk of spinal cord injury (or worsening of an already injured spine) if the fracture is unstable, that is, likely to change alignment without internal or external fixation.[1]
- ^ "Fracture". MDguidelines by the American Medical Association. Retrieved 2017-10-26.