Why do spinal fractures tend to occur in the thoracolumbar segment?

The thoracolumbar spine is the most mobile and fractures with spinal cord injury are also the most common. The fracture of the spinal cord is often caused by direct compression of the spinal cord by displaced vertebrae, broken bones, discs, and other tissues, resulting in bleeding, edema, ischemia, and even fracture and complete contusion of the spinal cord. The weakening and loss of body sensation, motor dysfunction, and sphincter dysfunction caused by the injury often cause great pain and even life-threatening to the patient. Clinically, the diagnosis of thoracolumbar vertebral fracture with spinal cord injury is not difficult. Patients often have a history of severe trauma, such as fall from height, heavy object striking the low back, landslide accident, traffic accident, etc. The injured person feels severe pain in the low back and cannot turn over and stand up. Localized fracture can be found in the limited posterior protrusion deformity. Especially after spinal cord injury, the pain, touch and temperature sensation of the skin below the plane of the injured vertebral body is reduced or disappeared, and the motor function of the lower limbs is impaired, and serious loss of control of urination and defecation, such as urinary retention, incontinence, diarrhea and constipation, may occur. X-rays, CT, and MRI can clarify the segment and severity of spinal cord injury in vertebral fractures. These patients have serious injuries, which can lead to paralysis if not treated properly, followed by decubitus ulcers, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, vegetative nervous system dysfunction and many other serious complications.