A Case of Delayed Paraplegia Following Missed Diagnosis on Computed Tomography

There are many proposed classification systems for traumatic thoracolumbar fractures (TLF). More recently published are the AO Spine Classification System and the Thoraco-Lumbar Injury Classification System (TLICS). There has been a paucity of high-level evidence to link these classification system subtypes with clinical outcomes and/or management strategies. Previously, post-traumatic burst fractures or two column injuries identified on computed tomography (CT) scan have been deemed stable injuries. The addition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation for concomitant ligamentous injuries in cases of incomplete burst fractures has been widely debated without high-level evidence. In this report, we present a case of an incomplete burst fracture at L1, AO-A3, which did not receive an MRI and presented with delayed paraplegia four weeks later.