Aortic injuries in thoracolumbar spine fracture-dislocations: report of three cases.

Patients with thoracolumbar fractures and fracture-dislocations of the spine often have associated injuries. One rare and potentially life-threatening concomitant injury is aortic trauma. In cases of fracture-dislocation at the thoracolumbar junction, injuries to the thoracic aorta must be diagnosed early and treated appropriately in conjunction with posterior fixation of the unstable spine.