Atlas of Signs in Musculoskeletal Radiology is approved by the ARRS (American Roentgen Ray Society) and is included in AJR Webreview

A. Gentili,MD, M. Beller, MD, S. Masih, MD, L.L. Seeger, MD

Diagnosis:

Avascular Necrosis

Discussion:

Single frontal radiograph of the spine revealing a horizontally oriented linear area of lucency within the body of a single collapsed vertebral body. The intravertebral vacuum cleft sign is a gas-density cleft with a transverse separation of the vertebral body, appearing in extension and disappearing in flexion. It is secondary to local bony ischemic necrosis with nonhealing vertebral collapse. This ischemic vertebral fracture is not known to occur secondary to inflammation or neoplastic causes.

References:

Atlas of Signs in Musculoskeletal Radiology is approved by the ARRS (American Roentgen Ray Society) and is included in AJR Webreview

A. Gentili,MD, M. Beller, MD, S. Masih, MD, L.L. Seeger, MD