[The Chance fracture and its variants]

Five cases of Chance fracture are reported, representing 0.6% of the spinal fractures treated at the Orthopedic Clinic of the University of Athens during the last 10 years. This fracture is frequently not recognized and diagnosis is delayed because of this fact. The mechanism and the clinical and radiological signs are discussed. A classification is proposed that contains four varieties of this lesion. The Chance fracture is discussed with regard to stability, as surgical stabilization is reserved for unstable fractures (types B, C, D).