Chance fracture 

Chance fracture 

• MOI: MVA (seatbelt) → flexion & distraction (MC T12-L2)

  • ant. col. compression/tension failure; mid. & ± pos. col. distraction failure;

• Highly assoc. w/ abd injuries

• AO: B-type (distraction → pos./ant. injury); 3 subgroups:

  • B1: osseous distraction (pos. ver. body frx, w/o lig.)

  • B2: pos. lig. complex injury (± bony fr)

  • B3: ant. & pos. complex injury (bone ± lig.)

Chance is usually B2/B3 

• TX: Qx if unstable