The clay-shoveler's fracture is an oblique fracture of a lower cervical spinous process, commonly C7. It results from hyperflexion, commonly from shoveling snow, although it was originally named for those who were mining clay. This is a stable injury.

A	Lateral radiograph of the cervical spine. This is the typical clay shoveler's fracture of the lower cervical spine

Links to online textbooks:

• Wheeless' Orthopedics: discussion of spinous process fractures

Links to online cases:

• Peoria Radiology Associates
• Emedicine.com

References:

• Baker BK, Sundaram M, Awwad EE: Case report 688. Fractures of the spinous processes of multiple thoracic vertebrae Skeletal Radiol. 1991;20(6):463-4.           [See related articles]
• Dellestable F, Gaucher A: Clay-shoveler's fracture. Stress fracture of the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinous processes Rev Rhum Engl Ed. 1998 Oct;65(10):575-82.           [See related articles]