ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the diagnosis and management of thoracic fractures from T1 to T10. Fractures of the thoracolumbar (T11-L1) junction are considered separately because the biomechanics of this transitional segment between a hypermobile and relatively immobile region differ from the rest of the thoracic spine. Much of our understanding of thoracic fractures is derived from series that include both thoracic and thoracolumbar fractures. An attempt is made to differentiate the data pertinent to thoracic fractures from those involving the transitional segments.
