Laceration of abdominal aorta by a fragment of fractured L2 vertebral body after a low-energy injury: a case report and review of literature.

STUDY DESIGN

A rare case of direct injury to the wall of abdominal aorta caused by a displaced fracture of the L2 vertebral body resulting from a low-energy injury. Potential injury mechanism and predisposing factors are discussed along with a review of literature pertaining to the subject.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a unique case of direct aortic wall injury caused by a displaced vertebral body fracture.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The literature on aortic wall injuries after vertebral fractures is reviewed. So far, only the injuries of the thoracic aorta were extensively described. Injuries of the abdominal aorta are much less frequent and usually associated with high-energy trauma. However, coexisting disorders, predisposing the patient to thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures (e.g., osteoporosis, chronic alcoholism) and aortic wall injuries (atherosclerosis) make aforementioned complication possible, despite the low-energy mechanism of injury.

METHODS

A clinical and radiographical interpretation of the reported case is presented.

RESULTS

Laceration of abdominal aorta was caused by a sharp, anteriorly displaced bone fragment of the fractured L2 vertebral body.

CONCLUSION

The reported case adds to the literature on vertebral fractures by describing another mechanism leading to aortic wall disruption. Similar vascular complications may be identified more frequently in the future given the high prevalence of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis in the general population.