In Brief:
This was a cadaveric, radiographic, and finite element study to investigate the various anatomic structures that are injured in a distractive-extension (DE) injury of the lower cervical spine. This study noted that 2 major stabilizers were associated with angulation and posterior translation, the posterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior facet capsule. Based on the findings of this study and a reevaluation of the DE stages of injury as initially proposed by Allen et al, Spine 1982;7:1–27, a new classification system of DE injuries of the cervical spine is proposed.
