Which Morphological Features of Facet Diastasis Predict Thoracolumbar Posterior Ligamentous Complex Injury as Defined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

Background: The association of various morphological features of facet diastasis with posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) injury has not been previously described. This study aims to determine the diagnostic value of facet diastasis subtypes for diagnosing thoracolumbar PLC injury.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 337 consecutive patients with acute thoracolumbar fractures who had computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 10 days of injury.