An Overview of Uncinate Process Fractures
An uncinate process fracture is a severe back injury that could be sustained in a car accident. The uncinate process is a small, hook-shaped bone that projects from the vertebrae in the back. These vertebrae protect the spinal cord from serious injuries. Unfortunately, back injuries are far more common than many people realize. These back injuries have the potential to lead to missed time from work and school.
Furthermore, some of these back injuries could lead to permanent, lifelong complications that impact not only the individual but also their family and friends. It is essential for individuals to understand how these fractures occur, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated. Sometimes, fractures of the uncinate process could even lead to damage to the spinal cord.
What is the Job of the Uncinate Processes?
The cervical vertebrae from C3 to C7 contain these uncinate processes. These bony prominences serve several jobs by:
- Preventing the vertebrae from sliding too far over the vertebrae above and beneath them, protecting the spinal cord.
- Providing additional protection and reinforcement for the discs in the cervical spine, preventing disc herniation.
- Limiting the ability of the spine to bend from side to side, termed lateral flexion, and protecting the nerves that might be damaged by these movements.
Unfortunately, like other parts of the spine, the uncinate processes can be damaged. In some cases, damage to these processes can also lead to damage to the nerves that project from the cervical vertebrae. If these nerves are damaged, individuals could develop symptoms and complications that might last for the rest of their life.
How are the Uncinate Processes Fractured?
There are several common ways that individuals could sustain fractures of the uncinate processes. These mechanisms can lead to severe fractures that could include fractures in other bones, damage to internal organs, and spinal cord damage. Some of the most common ways that people suffer fractures of the uncinate processes include:
- Injuries due to firearms, both accidental and intentional
- Injuries that take place while playing sports, mainly contact sports such as football and soccer
- Motor vehicle accidents
Without a doubt, motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of fractures of the uncinate processes. There are several ways that individuals could suffer a fracture of the uncinate process in a motor vehicle collision.
- Excessive flexion and extension of the cervical spine that takes place during a collision.
- Blunt trauma to the back during the collision.
- Penetrating injuries from glass or metal.
- Those who are ejected from the motor vehicle are at risk of suffering polytrauma.
This is the reason why motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of back and spinal cord injuries every year. Also, it is crucial for everyone to remember that uncinate process fractures, like other injuries, can vary in their scope and severity. It is vital for readers to understand some of the signs and symptoms of this severe injury.
An Overview of the Symptoms of Uncinate Process Fractures
While those who have broken a bone might think it is easy to spot a fracture, this isn’t always the case. Fractures of the uncinate process of the cervical vertebrae can range from relatively minor to extremely severe. Some of the most common symptoms of a fracture in this location include:
- Pain that gets worse on palpation of the area of the injury
- Neck pain that gets worse with movement
- Pain that might radiate from the upper neck down the rest of the spine
- Neck pain that shoots down the shoulders or arms, particularly when the arms are moved
- Swelling and bruising of the upper neck
- A feeling of decreased sensation or numbness in the arms or legs
- A sense of weakness in the hands, arms, and shoulders
These symptoms are generated from damage to the nerves that exit near the uncinate process. If these processes are fractured, the nerves that run near these processes might also be damaged. This leads to the symptoms described above. Of course, those with minor fractures might not suffer all of these symptoms. Those who have multiple injuries might have severe symptoms. For this reason, anyone who feels back pain after a motor vehicle accident should seek medical care right away. They might have a fracture of the uncinate process.
Watch YouTube Video: Uncinate Process. This video provides an overview of the uncinate process and describes the variations of the uncinate.
The Diagnosis of an Uncinate Process Fracture
Road traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of back injuries, including cervical fractures of the uncinate process. If an individual presents to the emergency room or primary care provider with the symptoms described above, the doctors are going to look for a fracture in the cervical spine. First, the doctor will perform a detailed physical examination of the back. He or she may ask the individual to perform specific movements that are designed to identify motor and sensory problems with the cervical nerves. After this, the doctor is likely going to order imaging scans of the back. These could include:
- X-rays from the front and side of the spine
- A CT scan of the back
- An MRI of the spine
All of these images serve different purposes in the diagnosis of a fracture of the uncinate process. An x-ray is a cheap and fast method of identifying bone fractures; however, it does not provide the 3-dimensional view that a CT scan offers. However, a CT scan also uses a lot more radiation. An MRI takes longer to perform, but it also provides a detailed view of the spinal cord and can identify damage to the nerves themselves. All of these images, combined with a complete history and physical examination, play a critical role in the diagnosis of an uncinate process fracture after a car accident.
Complications Associated with a Fracture of the Uncinate Process
Several serious complications could arise following a fracture of the uncinate process. Many of these complications stem from damage due to associated injuries. Some of these complications include:
Damage to the Spinal Cord: The job of the uncinate process is to protect the spinal cord. If these processes are damaged, the spinal cord could also be harmed. It will be essential to check and make sure that the nerves that make up the spinal cord are intact.
Other Vertebral Fractures: If an individual has fractures of the uncinate processes, there could be other vertebral fractures present as well. These could include fractures of the spinal processes or even compression fractures of the vertebrae.
Herniated Discs: In some cases, the trauma to the cervical spine in a motor vehicle accident could lead to herniated discs. The job of the spinal discs is to cushion the vertebrae themselves. Without this cushion, severe back pain could result.
While medical providers are looking for fractures of the uncinate processes, they might also identify some of the injuries above. If these injuries are identified, the individual could require surgery to protect the nerves of the spinal cord and prevent lifelong complications.
Treating Fractures of the Uncinate Processes
Once these injuries have been diagnosed, the next step involves treatment. The first priority of the medical team will be making sure that the spinal cord was not damaged in the motor vehicle accident. If there are any concerns that the cord has been damaged, steroids might be given to try to reduce the swelling, and the spine will be immobilized. Once the doctors have determined that the cord is safe, the treatment of the uncinate process fracture can begin.
In some cases, surgery might be required to repair the bone fracture. Once the fracture has been repaired, the bones will take several weeks to heal. During this time, physical and occupational therapy might be necessary to restore strength to the arms and shoulders. The goal of these exercises will be to:
- Strengthen the muscles around the cervical spine to prevent a reinjury from occurring.
- Restore function to the nerves that exit the cervical spine.
- Restore function to the arms and shoulders if any function has been lost.
- Improve the chronic pain that often follows a severe injury of the back.
A severe back injury in a motor vehicle accident, such as a fracture of the uncinate process, can have some severe quality of life issues.
Contacting an Injury Lawyer
If an individual has sustained a fracture of the uncinate process, this could lead to surgery. Unfortunately, this surgical procedure is often only the start of a long road to recovery. This could involve physical or occupational therapy and could include missed time from work or school. When this happens, the entire family feels the stress. Under these circumstances, it is essential to ask for help. Meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento is a smart place to start. Some of the resources which an injury attorney could share include:
- Reviewing detailed documents and records relating to the accident, ensuring that every detail is considered appropriately.
- Acting as an objective professional who can help families make tough decisions during an emotional time.
- Negotiating with various banks and financial institutions to help families get their benefits paid out on time.
- Helping families pursue damages that could be related to the accident.
- Moving a case from the negotiation table to the courtroom when needed.
Most importantly, individuals and their loved ones need to know that they are not alone during this stressful time. Remember that professional assistance is available, so speak to a Sacramento personal injury lawyer today. You and your family may be entitled to a significant financial settlement.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. An uncinate process fracture in a motor vehicle accident could lead to surgery, chronic pain, and a prolonged recovery process. If your loved one has suffered a fracture of the uncinate process and subsequently developed extreme complications, please give me a call at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Photo Attribution: The image that was placed at the top of this page was located first on Pixabay. It has been used here with the permission of the Creative Commons License
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