Thoracolumbar Trauma Classification

Abstract

Useful thoracolumbar injury classifications allow for meaningful and concise communication between surgeons, trainees, and researchers. Although many have been proposed, none have been able to obtain universal acceptance. Historically, classifications focused only on the osseous injuries; more recent classifications focused on the injury morphology and other critical determinants of treatment, including the posterior ligamentous complex integrity and the patient's neurologic status. This review details the important historic classifications and reviews more contemporary thoracolumbar injury classifications, such as the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System and the AOSpine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System.

Keywords: AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classification system; Spine injury classification; Spine trauma; The thoracolumbar injury classification system (TLICS); Thoracolumbar injury; Thoracolumbar trauma.