J Bone Joint Surg Br
-
Twelve cases of sternal injury associated with spinal fractures have been reviewed. The sternum is regularly buckled or fractured in patients with high thoracic spinal fractures. ⋯ A displaced fracture of the thoracic spine, with or without an associated sternal fracture, can produce significant widening of the mediastinal shadow on a chest radiograph. This is caused by a paravertebral haematoma, and can be difficult to differentiate from widening due to an aortic rupture.