Injuries in adolescent spine exposed to compressive loads: An experimentalcadaveric study

In a cadaveric experiment, 16 functional spinal units (FSUs) obtained from 7 subjects with a mean age of 16.3 years were tested in compression to fail ure. The deformation rate was 5 mm/min. The bone mineral content (BMC) in t he vertebrae was determined by using dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA). In 1 5 of the FSUs, traumatic changes were registered. Three different types of changes were seen. In nine vertebrae, there was a rupture in the cartilagin ous end plate, in 12, a separation of the end plate from the vertebral body , and in three vertebrae, a compression fracture was registered. A close re lation was found between BMC and the ultimate force (r(2) = 0.63), the ulti mate displacement (r(2) = 0.73), and the energy absorption (r(2) = 0.74). T he weakest part of a spinal segment in this experimental situation is the g rowth plate.