Clay-shoveler fracture
Encyclopedia
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 1930's, 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; the worker would hear a pop and feel a sudden pain between the shoulder blades, unable to continue working. 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
.
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
through the spinous process
Spinous process
The spinous process of a vertebra is directed backward and downward from the junction of the laminae , and serves for the attachment of muscles and ligaments. In animals without an erect stance, the process points upward and may slant forward or backward...
of a vertebra occurring at any of the lower cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae, classically at C6
Cervical vertebra 6
The cervical vertebra 6 is a vertebra of the spinal column.The cervical spinal nerve 6 passes out above it.The first cricoid ring is directly opposite C6....
or C7 . In Australia in the 1930's, 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; the worker would hear a pop and feel a sudden pain between the shoulder blades, unable to continue working. 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
Avulsion fracture
An avulsion fracture is a bone fracture which occurs when a fragment of bone tears away from the main mass of bone as a result of physical trauma. This can occur at the ligament due to the application forces external to the body or at the tendon due to a muscular contraction that is stronger than...
. The fracture is diagnosed
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
by plain film examination
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
.