Holdsworth fracture

The Holdsworth fracture is an unstable fracture dislocation of the thoraco lumbar junction of the spine. The injury comprises a fracture through a vertebral body, rupture of the posterior spinal ligaments and fractures of the facet joints.[1]

The injury was described by Sir Frank Wild Holdsworth in 1963. He described the mechanism of this injury as a flexion-rotation injury, and stated that the unstable fracture dislocation should be treated by fusion of the two affected vertebrae.[2]

References

  1. Tim B Hunter, Leonard F Peltier, Pamela J Lund (2000). "Musculoskeletal Eponyms: Who Are Those Guys?". RadioGraphics 20: 827. doi:10.1148/radiographics.20.3.g00ma20819. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  2. Holdsworth FW (February 1963). "Fractures, dislocations, and fracture-dislocations of the spine.". J Bone Joint Surg Br 45–B (1): 6–20. Retrieved 2009-11-05.