A wedge fracture is caused by which mechanism?

A wedge fracture is caused by which mechanism?

• A. Spinal Flexion
• B. Axial Loading
• C. Both Spinal Flexion And Axial Loading
• D. Intraabdominal Injury

Answer: (C)

A wedge fracture happens when the front part of a vertebral body is compressed more than the back part, creating a wedge shape. This pattern comes from a combination of forward bending (flexion) and a compressive force along the spine (axial loading). Flexion makes the anterior column bear more load, and axial loading provides the force that drives the compression. Together, they produce the characteristic anterior height loss seen in wedge fractures, often in scenarios like landing on a flexed spine or a fall with an axial impact. An intraabdominal injury isn’t involved in the mechanism of forming a wedge fracture, which is why the combined flexion and axial loading option is the best explanation.

A wedge fracture happens when the front part of a vertebral body is compressed more than the back part, creating a wedge shape. This pattern comes from a combination of forward bending (flexion) and a compressive force along the spine (axial loading). Flexion makes the anterior column bear more load, and axial loading provides the force that drives the compression. Together, they produce the characteristic anterior height loss seen in wedge fractures, often in scenarios like landing on a flexed spine or a fall with an axial impact. An intraabdominal injury isn’t involved in the mechanism of forming a wedge fracture, which is why the combined flexion and axial loading option is the best explanation.