FREQUENCY OF VERTEBRAL FRACTURES IN HIGH-ENERGY TRAUMA

ABSTRACT Objective: Traumatic injuries due to accidents are the leading causes of death and disability in the population of young adults in many countries. Spinal fractures are among the multiple injuries by traumatic mechanisms. The incidence of these injuries is estimated between 8,000 and 16,000 new cases per year and are associated with high-energy trauma. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted at the Hospital Central Cruz Roja Mexicana. We reviewed 68 medical records of patients admitted to the emergency department of that hospital and were diagnosed with some type of traumatic vertebral fracture associated with high-energy trauma. Results: The sample consisted of 53 men and 15 women, of whom 11 patients with cervical spine injury, 2 with cervicothoracic injury, 16 with thoracic injury, five with thoracolumbar fracture and 34 with lumbar injury. Conclusions: The lumbar spine is more prone to suffer injuries by high-energy mechanism, followed by the thoracic and cervical spine, respectively. The thoracolumbar junction is more frequently affected than the cervicothoracic junction in a ratio of 2:1. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective studyf.