Fracture-dislocations of the spine that may spare the cord: an explanation.

The combination of severe fracture-dislocation of the spine with little or no damage to the spinal cord and its roots is rare. There is a characteristic pattern of bony injury that seems most likely to result from a combination of extension and longitudinal compression and may not endanger the neural tissue. The usual clinical features of severe injury of the spine may be lacking and the radiological interpretation is difficult. Although the reports suggest that these injuries are stable in deformity this may not always be so and the spine should be afforded the usual protection.