What is the difference between a burst fracture and a Jefferson fracture?
A C1 (atlas) vertebral fracture that usually occurs after an axial load injury during a diving accident. When there are both anterior and posterior arch fractures this is called a burst fracture (also known as a Jefferson’s fracture) and occurs when the occipital condyles are forced into the lateral masses of C1. The C1 vertebra (atlas) is a closed ring. A fracture of a closed ring necessarily results in at least two areas of ring disruption. These disruptions are customarily accompanied by a spread of the C1 ring fragments as a result of the axial loading mechanism of this injury and the weight of the head.
Why is it called a Jefferson fracture?
The Jefferson burst fracture, named after British neurosurgeon Sir Geoffrey Jefferson, was first reported in 1920 and typically presents as four bony fractures of the anterior and posterior arches of C1 following hyperextension or excessive axial loading of the atlas [6]. Patient with a Jefferson fracture must be diagnosed with a CT scan. Jefferson fractures can be either stable or unstable. Unstable fractures is usually accompanied by a TAL (transverse atlantal ligament). For stable fracture most of the time they are treated conservatively by immobilisation by means of a hard collar.Jefferson fracture is often caused by an impact or load on the back of the head, and are frequently associated with diving into shallow water, impact against the roof of a vehicle and falls, and in children may occur due to falls from playground equipment.
What is the prognosis for a Jefferson fracture?
What’s the outlook? Any injury to the spine is a serious matter. The most serious concern is damage to the spinal cord. If you’ve experienced a Jefferson fracture without any neurological problems, you should be able to achieve a full recovery. A stable c-spine vertebral injury that hasn’t affected the spinal cord will have a very high likelihood for full recovery with the right treatment. An unstable fracture to the vertebrae that has not affected the spinal cord can also be expected to mend well in a healthy person, with some very careful management.With proper treatment and therapy, victims may be able to recover some degree of function. However, full recovery after a spinal cord injury is rare. Several factors contribute to the likelihood of recovery from a spinal cord injury.
Why is it called Bennet fracture?
Nomenclature. The Bennett fracture is named after Edward Hallaran Bennett, Professor of Surgery (1837–1907) at Trinity College Dublin, who described it in 1882. The Smith’s fracture was named by Irish surgeon Robert William Smith in 1847, however, this injury was first named for French Physician Jean-Gaspard-Blaise Goyrand (1746-1814) and is commonly known as a Goyrand fracture in French literature.
What is the mnemonic for Jefferson fracture?
The common mnemonic “Jefferson Bit Off A Hangman’s Thumb,” is used to remember the unstable fractures, which will be reviewed in this post. Ultimately, understanding the mechanism of injury is crucial in identifying and accurately managing these injuries. Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, also known as a Hangman’s fracture, is a traumatic fracture of the bilateral pars interarticularis of C2.In a hangman’s fracture, the pars of C2 fractures, or breaks, on both sides. At the same time, the C2 body may move out of position relative to the vertebra below, C3. This is the type of fracture supposedly created by judicial hangings.