Fractura de "clay shoveler" como consecuencia de un accidente de trabajo en un peón agrícola: reporte de un caso / Clay shoveler's fracture as a result of a work injury in a manual laborer: case report

Resumen La fractura de "clay shoveler" es una fractura poco frecuente de la apófisis espinosa de las vértebras cervicales o torácicas superiores, más comúnmente entre C6 y T6 producida de manera aguda o crónica por fuerzas rotacionales ejercidas a nivel cervical en la labor de "palear", aunque también se han reportado casos asociados a la práctica de algunos deportes. Se presenta el caso de un péon agrícola de 43 años de edad que consulta por cervicalgia y sensación de inmovilidad luego de un movimiento brusco durante un levantamiento de tierra con pala, siendo que el ente asegurador no establece relación de causalidad, por lo que demanda a nivel judicial para valoración médico legal, documentándose fractura de "clay shoveler" en C7 y T1 según estudios radiológicos. La valoración médico legal del caso, que se sustentó en la documentación médica y estudios radiológicos, permitió determinar que la lesión evidenciada era consecuencia del accidente laboral reportado, estableciéndose la relación causal.

Abstract Clay shoveler's fracture is an infrequent lesion of the spinous process of the cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae, mainly between C6 and T6, produced acutely or chronically because of rotational forces exerted at the cervical level during shoveling, but some cases have been reported as a result of the practice of sports. We present the case of a 43-year old manual laborer who consulted because of cervical pain and range of motion limitation after a sudden move performed during shoveling, diagnosed with a clay shoveler's fracture in C7 and T1, treated conservatively. The patient was discharged after finishing treatment, since the insurance company dismissed causality. The medico legal assessment of the case, based on medical documentation, radiological findings and an Orthopedics consult, helped stablish causality since it was determined that the fracture was a result of the accident reported.

Risk Factors for Cement Loosening after Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture with Intravertebral Cleft: A Retrospective Analysis

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the primary outcomes and radiographic results of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with singlelevel osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) with intravertebral cleft (IVC) to identify the risk factors for cement loosening after PVP. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: PVP is a widely accepted method for managing painful OVF; however, cement loosening occasionally occurs with poor outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 195 patients treated with PVP for single-level OVF with IVC. Six months thereafter, the primary outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for back pain and the modified Oswestry Disability Index. Computed tomography was conducted to detect cement loosening. Possible risk factors, such as age, sex, wedging angle, intravertebral instability, Parkinson’s disease, spinous process fracture, ankylosing spinal hyperostosis, split vertebrae, and adjacent intervertebral vacuum, were assessed. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients (25%) experienced cement loosening 6 months after PVP. The mean VAS scores were significantly higher in patients with cement loosening than in those without (50 vs. 26 mm, respectively; p < 0.01). Cement loosening was closely associated with intravertebral instability (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.40; p =0.015), Parkinson’s disease (OR, 54.31; 95% CI, 4.47–659.53; p =0.002), spinous process fracture (OR, 7.11; 95% CI, 1.65–30.60; p =0.009), and split vertebrae (OR, 11.59; 95% CI, 1.64–82.02; p =0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cement loosening experienced worse back pain than those without cement loosening. The important risk factors that influenced cement loosening after PVP were high intravertebral instability, Parkinson’s disease, spinous process fracture, and split vertebrae.

The effects of cervical spinous process fracture with posterior ligamentous complex injury on stability of the goat cervical spine / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the effect of cervical spinous process fracture with posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) injury on biomechanical stability of the goat cervical spine specimen in vitro, and evaluate the role of posterior structure in maintaining the stability of cervical spine. Methods Twenty-four fresh goat cervical spine C3-6 specimens were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups: control group (group A), simple cervical spinous process fracture group (group B) and cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury group (group C). Under loading of 1.5 N·m torque, the range of motion (ROM) in each group was respectively measured under 6 working conditions: flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation, and the ROM differences among 3 groups were compared by using one-way ANOVA analysis. Results Simple cervical spinous process fracture had little effect on the stability of cervical spine and there was no significant difference in ROM between group B and control group (P>0.05) under all working conditions. Compared with control group, the ROM in flexion, extension and axial rotation significantly increased in group C (P0.05). Conclusions Simple cervical spinous process fracture does not affect the overall stability of cervical spine. Cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury is more likely to cause cervical instability than simple cervical spinous process fracture, and surgical intervention is required in cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury.

The effects of cervical spinous process fracture with posterior ligamentous complex injury on stability of the goat cervical spine / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the effect of cervical spinous process fracture with posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) injury on biomechanical stability of the goat cervical spine specimen in vitro,and evaluate the role of posterior structure in maintaining the stability of cervical spine.Methods Twenty-four fresh goat cervical spine C3-6 specimens were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups:control group (group A),simple cervical spinous process fracture group (group B) and cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury group (group C).Under loading of 1.5 N · m torque,the range of motion (ROM) in each group was respectively measured under 6 working conditions:flexion,extension,lateral bending and axial rotation,and the ROM differences among 3 groups were compared by using one-way ANOVA analysis.Results Simple cervical spinous process fracture had little effect on the stability of cervical spine and there was no significant difference in ROM between group B and control group (P ＞ 0.05) under all working conditions.Compared with control group,the ROM in flexion,extension and axial rotation significantly increased in group C (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant ROM difference was found in lateral bending between control group and group C (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Simple cervical spinous process fracture does not affect the overall stability of cervical spine.Cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury is more likely to cause cervical instability than simple cervical spinous process fracture,and surgical intervention is required in cervical spinous process fracture with PLC injury.

Multiple Cervical Spinous Process Fractures in a Novice Golf Player

Avulsion of spinous process, also called Clay-shoveler's fracture, is most prevalent among those engaged in hard physical labor. To the best of the author's knowledge, only one case of multiple spinous process fractures of the upper thoracic spine in a novice golfer has been reported. A 45-year-old female presented with intractable posterior neck pain. The patient experienced a sharp, sudden pain on the neck while swinging a golf club, immediately after the club head struck the ground. Dynamic cervical radiographic findings were C6 and C7 spinous process fractures. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed C6 and C7 spinous process fractures without spinal cord pathology. The patient was treated with pain medications and cervical bracing. The patient's pain gradually improved. The injury mechanism was speculated to be similar to Clay-shoveler's fracture. Lower cervical spinous process fractures can be associated with a golf swing. If the patient complains of long lasting neck pain and has a history of golf activity, further study should be conducted to rule out lower cervical spinous fracture.