Fig. 11

Illustration of a flexion teardrop fracture. In a severe hyperflexion injury compression forces cause an oblique fracture involving the inferior endplate of a vertebral body with disc injury (white arrowhead). There is frequently epidural hematoma formation, which can cause compression of the cord (black arrowhead). The distracting forces experienced by the posterior aspect of the spine cause injury to the posterior ligamentous structures (black arrow)