This paper introduces the AOSpine subaxial cervical spine injury classification system, developed by international consensus. It organizes cervical injuries (C3-C7) into three morphologic types, with additional facet, modifier, and neurologic components. The study assessed reliability across multiple expert raters grading 30 cases on two separate occasions.
Subaxial cervical spine trauma has historically been classified with systems (Allen-Ferguson, Harris) that were difficult to apply consistently and did not translate well into treatment algorithms. The AOSpine system fixes this by anchoring classification to injury morphology — the same logic used for the thoracolumbar spine. And adding neurologic status and facet descriptors that directly inform surgical planning.
When you encounter a subaxial cervical injury, classify it as Type A (compression), Type B (tension band disruption), or Type C (translational) before anything else. Type C injuries carry the greatest instability and almost always require surgical stabilization. Type B injuries with posterior ligamentous disruption similarly warrant operative intervention in most cases.
This classification is the foundation for the AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Score (SLICS predecessor context) and is now the standard language in spine trauma research. Fluency here is expected on the OITE and in any spine trauma discussion.
This paper introduces the AOSpine subaxial cervical spine injury classification system, developed by international consensus. It organizes cervical injuries (C3-C7) into three morphologic types, with additional facet, modifier, and neurologic components. The study assessed reliability across multiple expert raters grading 30 cases on two separate occasions.
Subaxial cervical spine trauma has historically been classified with systems (Allen-Ferguson, Harris) that were difficult to apply consistently and did not translate well into treatment algorithms. The AOSpine system fixes this by anchoring classification to injury morphology — the same logic used for the thoracolumbar spine. And adding neurologic status and facet descriptors that directly inform surgical planning.
When you encounter a subaxial cervical injury, classify it as Type A (compression), Type B (tension band disruption), or Type C (translational) before anything else. Type C injuries carry the greatest instability and almost always require surgical stabilization. Type B injuries with posterior ligamentous disruption similarly warrant operative intervention in most cases.
This classification is the foundation for the AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Score (SLICS predecessor context) and is now the standard language in spine trauma research. Fluency here is expected on the OITE and in any spine trauma discussion.