Imaging Evaluation of Cervical Spine

Imaging of the Cervical Spine > Fractures > Classification

Classification

By mechanism of injury

Type of Injury	Fractures	Stability
Flexion	Anterior subluxation Unilateral facet dislocation Bilateral facet dislocation Wedge compression fracture Flexion teardrop fracture Clay Shoveler's fracture	stable or delayed unstability stable unstable stable unstable stable
Extension	Hangman's fracture	unstable
Compression	Jefferson fracture Burst fracture	unstable stable
Complex	Odontoid

By stability

Stable	Anterior subluxation Unilateral interfacetal dislocation Simple wedge fracture Burst fracture, lower cervical spine Clay Shoveler's fracture
Unstable	Anterior subluxation Bilateral interfacetal dislocation Flexion teardrop fracture Hangman's fracture Jefferson fracture of atlas