'Tear-drop' fractures of the cervical spine - radiological features.

Severe flexion and compression forces applied to the cervical spine may result in a 'tear-drop' fracture of the vertebral body. These are serious injuries because of the high incidence of associated spinal cord involvement and ligamentous damage which renders the spine potentially unstable. The radiological features of these fractures are described and compared with less serious vertebral body 'burst' and compression fractures.