War Injuries of the Spine and Spinal Cord

A high proportion of the spinal injuries occurring in war time will be of the closed variety, comprising fractures and fracture dislocations of the vertebral column resulting from accidental injury. For example, from falls down the hatchway, into craters, in civilian injuries from the crush of falling masonry, or in battle from the blast of high explosive hurling patients into grotesque postures, or causing the collapse of parapets and sandbags with resulting crush and flexion injuries.