THIS CT SCAN SHOWS THE FRACTURE LINES THROUGH THE BODY OF A MID LUMBAR VERTEBRAE. NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS OCCUR WHEN FRACTURED BONE HAS RETROPULSED INTO THE SPINAL CANAL CAUSING COMPRESSION OF THE LUMBAR NERVE ROOTS. THE FRACTURE INVOLVES THE POSTERIOR COLUMN OF THE SPINE OR LAMINA AS WELL. OVERALL, THIS IS AN UNSTABLE FRACTURE REQUIRING DECOMPRESSION OF THE NERVE ROOTS AND SURGICAL FUSION USING BONE GRAFTS AND APPLICATION OF SPINAL INSTRUMENTATION.