What characterizes a Denis 2 fracture of T1-8?

A Denis 2 fracture, which pertains to the thoracic spine at the levels of T1 to T8, is characterized specifically by flexion combined with compression. This type of fracture results from a mechanism where the spine undergoes flexion forces that compress the vertebral body, leading to its disruption.

This injury typically affects the anterior part of the vertebral body, causing a wedge-shaped deformity due to the compression of the front of the vertebra while the posterior elements may remain intact. The combination of flexion and compression is crucial for understanding the pathology of this fracture and how it influences treatment and prognosis.

Other fracture types mentioned, such as complete dislocation or burst fractures, have different mechanisms of injury and involve different anatomical disruptions. In Denis classification, compression fractures can be further defined, and the Denis 2 specifically highlights those injuries that involve flexion forces, making it a distinct category from isolated compression fractures, which may not involve flexion, or burst fractures, which typically result from axial loading without significant flexion component.