Trauma to the thoracic and lumbar spine in the adolescent

During adolescence the spine undergoes rapid growth and changes in anatomy and biomechanical properties. Fractures of the adolescent spine are relativ ely uncommon but may give rise to serious problems, This review describes t horacolumbar fractures in adolescents with respect to epidemiology, anatomy , mechanisms of injury, clinical and radiologic assessment, and nonoperativ e and operative treatment. The treatment of these injuries follows many of the same principles as spinal fractures in adults but nonoperative treatmen t is used more frequently because there is less spinal instability and bett er tolerance of bed rest and spinal immobilization in this young population .