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Summary

The thoracic spine has the important functions of:

  • protecting the spinal cord
  • transferring weight from the upper body to the lumbar spine
  • supporting the ribcage
  • providing a small amount of movement

When the thoracic spine is injured, the first critical question is whether there is also an irreversible spinal cord injury. If there is, this dominates the management and rehabilitation of the injury. If there is no spinal cord injury, the second critical question is whether the fracture is stable. If the fracture is not stable, then surgery to fix the fracture may be suggested to prevent damage to the spinal cord. If the fracture is stable, then some type of brace may be suggested to provide comfort and allow the fracture to heal.

Disclaimer

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