Tear drop fracture of lower cervical spine implies -: (A) Wedge compression fracture, (B) Axial compression fractures, (C) Flexion-rotation injury with failure of anterior body, (D) Flexion compression failure of body
Answer is D. Severe injuries are due to axial compression of the cervical spine, usually in diving or athletic accidents . If veebral body is crushed in neutral position of the neck the result is burst fracture. *With combined axial compression & flexion ,an antero- inferior fragment of the veebral body is sheared off , producing eponymous &;tear drop&; on lateral x- ray .in both type there is a risk of posterior displacement of the veebral body fragment & spinal cord injury . * plain x- ray - flexion deformity with a triangular fragment separated from antero- inferior edge of the fractured veebra REF : MAHESWARI 9TH ED