What is a clay shoveler fracture?
When a clay shoveler’s fracture occurs, a break which results in the detachment of the spinous process of one (or more) vertebrae in the upper spine takes place. Typically, it is the C6, C7, and/or T1 levels that are affected, but this injury can happen in other areas of the cervical or upper thoracic spine, as well.
Which type of pain occur in clay shoveler’s fracture?
Symptoms of clay-shoveler’s fracture include burning, “knife-like” pain at the level of the fractured spine (7th cervical vertebra) between the upper shoulder blades. The pain can sharply increase with repeated activity that strains the muscles of the upper back.
What area of the spine does a clay shoveler’s fracture involve?
Clay shoveler’s fracture is defined as a fracture that involves the Spinous processes of the lower cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae most commonly found at the midpoint between the spinolaminar line and tip of the Spinous processes of C6 -T3 spine levels with the most common occurring at C7 [1].
Why is it called Clay shovelers fracture?
It is named for its occurrence in Australian clay miners during the 1930’s, who sometimes sustained these fractures when the heavy clay that they tossed over their shoulder was stuck to their long-handled shovel causing a sudden flexion force on the neck and back muscles2.
How do you treat a spinous process fracture?
Isolated spinous process fractures are treated conservatively with analgesics, restriction of physical activity and wearing of a soft cervical collar for 4-6 weeks [4-6]. Surgical treatment was reported in patients with chronic pain, consisting of resection of the free bony fragment [7,8].
What is spondylolysis?
Spondylolysis is a stress fracture through the pars interarticularis of the lumbar vertebrae. The pars interarticularis is a thin bone segment joining two vertebrae. It is the most likely area to be affected by repetitive stress.
What kind of fracture does a clay shoveler have?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Clay-shoveler’s fracture is a stable fracture through the spinous process of a vertebra occurring at any of the lower cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae, classically at C6 or C7. In Australia in the 1930s, men digging deep ditches tossed clay 10 to 15 feet above their heads using long handled shovels.
Why does clay stick to a clay shovel?
Originally described in Australia, among clay shovelers. The reason is due to the stickiness of clay. As clay shovelers lift the shovel upwards to toss the clay from deep ditches, the clay tends to stick to the shovel.
How tall was a clay shovel in the 1930s?
In Australia in the 1930s, men digging deep ditches tossed clay 10 to 15 feet above their heads using long handled shovels. Instead of separating, the sticky clay would sometimes stick to the shovel.
What is the mechanism of an avulsion fracture?
The mechanism of injury is believed to be secondary to muscle pull and reflex with force transmission through the supraspinous ligaments. The tremendous force pulls on the spinous process producing an avulsion fracture. The fracture is diagnosed by plain film examination.