Denis Classification
Denis defined four types of spinal fractures:
- Wedge fracture (stable)
- Burst fracture (stable)
- Seat belt fracture (unstable)
- Fracture dislocation (unstable)
Denis also divided the spine into three columns:
- The anterior column (anterior longitudunal ligament plus the anterior half of the vertebral body)
- The middle column (the posterior half of the vertebral body plus the posterior longitudunal ligament)
- The posterior column (the pedicles, facet joints, plus the supraspinous ligaments)
- Instability results if there is disruption of two or more of these columns
Further details are available at Spine Universe and the GPNotebook.
