Musings of a Physio Student

medicalschool:

Compression fractures of the thoracic spine occur whenever the spinal column is subjected to forces that exceed its strength and stability. They may be first detected on chest radiographs by carefully evaluating the vertebral bodies. Typical findings on a plain radiograph for anterior compression fractures include cortical impaction, loss of vertical height, buckling of the anterior cortex, trabecular compaction, and endplate fracture. Lateral radiographs may provide better views of the spinal architecture. The image shown demonstrates kyphosis of the thoracic spine with an osteoporotic fracture of the T8 vertebral body (arrow).