The Chance fracture is a transverse fracture through a vertebral body
and neural arch (see figures). The Chance fracture is a flexion-distraction injury. Although it was originally described as a
pure osseous lesion, the fracture may also occur through the
disc and the ligaments. It also known as the seat belt
fracture, because it is usually associated with motor vehicle accidents
in which the
injured passenger is wearing a seat belt, frequently just a lap seatbelt. It was described by British
radiologist George Chance. Chance
fracture generally occurs at the thoracolumbar junction. Although it
involves all three columns of the
spine, it can be treated with orthoses when it was a pure osseous
lesion. In case of external stabilization is not feasible (due to
severe obesity, concomitant systemic trauma, etc) it requires spinal
stabilization to restore the posterior tension band.
