ABSTRACT
I INTRODUCTION Cervical spine elements can fail by various methods, with the resulting injuries being described in multiple manners (1-4). Most of the injuries that occur do so as a result of a combination of two or more mechanical forces overpowering the stability of the spinal elements leading to failure. Allen et al. published a mechanistic classification to cervical spine injury that allows determination of the injury by the vectorial forces involved (1). This chapter discusses the vertical compression mode of failure.
II VERTICAL COMPRESSION The failure mechanism for this injury is a loading of the spine in a neutral position with a pure compression force. Due to the positioning of the spine during failure, the transitional axis lies posterior to the anterior column and, as the severity of the injury increases, this mechanical vector causes the injured cephalad vertebral body to retrolisthes, resulting in severe canal compromise. These injuries tend to be located in the lower cervical spine.
