AUTHOR=Luo Bangmin , Chen Huarong , Zou Mingxiang , Yan Yiguo , Ouyang Xueqian , Wang Cheng 

TITLE=Advances in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of multiple-level noncontiguous spinal fractures

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1469425

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2024.1469425

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Multiple-level noncontiguous spinal fractures (MNSF) are spinal fractures that involve at least 2 sites and are characterized by the presence of one intact vertebra or intact functional spinal unit between the fractured vertebrae. MNSF account for 2.5–19% of all spinal fractures. MNSF are easily missed or have a delayed diagnosis in clinical practice and their treatment is more complex than that for single-segment spine fractures. In this article, the authors briefly summarize the advances in the etiology and mechanisms of MNSF, the identification of their involved sites and their classification, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.