During a preseason exhibition game of this NFL season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo suffered a compression fracutre of his lumbar spine against the Seattle Seahawks. While this was not a season-ending injury for Romo, the veteran quarterback lost his starting position to the exceptional play of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott during his abscence.

Compression (Wedge) Fracutre:

• Mostly in thoracic and lumbar spine
• Mechanism: Falls, Flexion-Distraction Injury, Malignancy, Osteoporosis
• Mostly stable unless loss of >50% of height
• Treatment: Mostly supportive care
  

Chance Fracture (Not a Football Injury):

• Mechanism: Flexion-Distraction injury, Lap-Belt injury
• Commonly occurs at T10-L2 levels
• Compression fracture of the anterior spine with transverse fracture through posterior elements of vertebra and posterior vertebral body
• Three of the "columns" have a fracture

1. Anterior: Anterior half of vertebral body and anterior longitudinal ligament
2. Middle: Posterior half of vertebral body and posterior longitudinal ligament
3. Posterior: Pedicles, facets, lamina, spinous/transverse processes

• If all 3 columns are fractured: Unstable fracture
• Keep in mind to look for intraabdominal injury
• Treatment: TLSO, Orthopedics consult
  

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