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UPDATE MECHANISTIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE THORACOLUMBAR SPINE FRACTURES AND A NEW THREE COLUMN CONCEPT İN SPINAL STABILITY *

  • M. Ali ELGİN
  • İrfan ESENKAYA
  • İ. Metin TÜRKMEN
  • Mücahit GÖRGEÇ
  • Gökhan GÜRKAYNAK

J Turk Spinal Surg 1996;7(2):52-56

To include ali the fracture patterns and the soft tissue lesions we made a new classification system according to the mechanism of the fractures from our clinical experience in Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital. İn this classification system 3 groups exist.

Group A: Fractures resulting from compression forces.

Group B: Fractures resulting from translational forces.

Group C: Fractures resulting from rotational forces.

For establishing importance of the Holdworth's posterior column and for giving a new approach to neurologic unstability in deciding operation we made a new ihree column concept. According to this concept; Anterior column is made up of ALL, anterior vertebral body, anterior annulus fibrosus. Middle column is made up of PLL, vertebral body, posterior annulus fibrosus, pedicle, lamina, ligamentum flavum, facets. Posterior column is made up of transverse process intertransverse ligament, spinous process, supra and infra spinous ligaments.

For deciding mechanical instability there must be lesion of the at least 3 anatomic parts in different columns or there must lesion of the at leats 2 anatomic parts in a single column. İn middle column if there is lesion of the at least 2 anatomic parts than neurologic instability will develop.

Keywords: classification, spine fractures, stability