Classification of lower cervical spine injuriesClassification des traumatismes du rachis cervical inférieur

Retrospective study of 306 severe Lower Cervical Spine (LCS) injuries sustained by 255 patients and treated in the University Hospital of Nice (France), has led us to propose a classification based on the notion of dominant lésional vector force. In each 3 groups, the lesions are classified according to the severity of the trauma.Compression injuries (33%):Anterior wedged compression fractures (3%)Burst fractures (7%).Tear drop fractures (23%)Flexion-distraction injuries (28%):Whiplash injuries, non included in the 306 cases except 5% with neurological complications.Severe sprains (14%)in flexion (12%)C. Bilateral facet fracture-dislocation (9%)in flexion (7.5 %)in extension (i.5 %).3. Rotation injuries (39%):Unilateral facet fracture (20%).Fracture-separation of the articular pillar (10%).Unilateral facet dislocation (9%)