Jefferson fracture is best described as which type of injury to which vertebra?

Jefferson fracture is best described as which type of injury to which vertebra?

• A. Burst fracture of C1 (atlas) due to axial load
• B. Compression fracture of L1
• C. Fracture of the odontoid process (C2)
• D. Fracture of the transverse process of T1

Answer: (A)

Jefferson fracture is a burst fracture of the atlas (C1) caused by axial loading of the head. When the skull drives straight down onto the spine, the ring-shaped C1 can fracture in multiple places, typically splitting both the anterior and posterior arches and driving the lateral masses outward. This pattern can destabilize the upper cervical spine and may disrupt the transverse ligament, risking narrowing or misalignment that could affect the spinal canal. It differs from injuries to other vertebrae or to different parts of the same vertebra, such as a fracture of the odontoid process of C2, a lumbar compression fracture, or a transverse process fracture of T1.

Jefferson fracture is a burst fracture of the atlas (C1) caused by axial loading of the head. When the skull drives straight down onto the spine, the ring-shaped C1 can fracture in multiple places, typically splitting both the anterior and posterior arches and driving the lateral masses outward. This pattern can destabilize the upper cervical spine and may disrupt the transverse ligament, risking narrowing or misalignment that could affect the spinal canal. It differs from injuries to other vertebrae or to different parts of the same vertebra, such as a fracture of the odontoid process of C2, a lumbar compression fracture, or a transverse process fracture of T1.