Wedging of C-3 in infants and children: usually a normal finding and not a fracture.

The vertebral body configurations of the cervical spine from C-3 to C-7 were analyzed in 481 pediatric patients to ascertain how often anterior tapering or wedging of C-3 (either of which may suggest a compression fracture) occurred, how often this configuration occurred at other levels, and why it occurred. The lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were retrospectively analyzed, and the configuration of the vertebral bodies was classified as type 1 (oval and immature), 2 (a vertebral body with a round anterior superior corner), 3 (anteriorly tapered), or 4 (rectangular, with a mature appearance). The patients were divided into four age groups: 0-3, 4-7, 8-12, and 13-19 years.