Inhaltsangabe1 Basic Considerations.- A. Epidemiology and Statistics.- B. Descriptive and Sectional Anatomy.- I. Bones.- II. Ligaments and Articulations.- III. Spinal Cord and Meninges.- C. Biomechanical Aspects, Stability and Fracture Classification.- I. Some Physical Properties of the Elements of the Spine.- 1. Bony Structures.- a) The Vertebral Body.- b) The Articular Process.- 2. Disko-ligamentous Structures.- a) The Intervertebral Disk.- b) The Ligaments.- 3. The Motion Segment.- 4. The Rib Cage.- 5. The Muscles.- 6. The Spinal Cord.- II. Stability and Fracture Classification.- 1. Conclusion.- D. Neurologic Symptoms in Spinal Trauma.- I. Spinal Shock and Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Syndrome.- II. Complete Spinal Cord Injury.- III. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.- IV. Nerve Root Injury.- V. Late Sequelae of Spinal Cord Injury.- E. Advantages and Limitations of the Methods.- I. Computed Tomography.- 1. Performing the Examination.- 2. Scout View.- 3. Transverse Scan.- 4. Secondary Image Reconstruction.- 5. Further Diagnostic Measures.- 6. Limitations of CT Diagnosis.- a) The Diagnostic Gap.- b) Period of Investigation.- c) Artifacts.- d) Resolution.- e) Diagnostic Limitations.- II. Magnetic Resonance Imaging.- 1. Performing the Examination.- 2. Pulse Sequence Considerations.- 3. Advantages and Limitations of MRI.- 2 Bone Injuries.- A. The Cervical Spine.- I. Dislocation and Subluxation.- 1. Atlanto-occipital Dislocation.- 2. Atlanto-axial Dislocation.- a) Anterior and Posterior Atlanto-axial Dislocation.- b) Rotational Atlanto-axial Dislocation.- II. Fractures of the Atlas and Axis.- 1. Fractures of the Atlas.- 2. Fractures of the Ring of the Axis.- 3. Fractures of the Odontoid Process.- III. The Cervical Spine C3-C7.- 1. Whiplash Injury.- 2. Unilateral Dislocation.- 3. Bilateral Dislocation.- 4. Fractures of the Articular Pillar and Posterior Arch.- a) Fracture of the Articular Pillar.- b) Fracture of the Articular Process.- c) Isolated Fracture of the Lamina.- 5. Burst Fracture.- 6. Fracture-Dislocation.- B. The Thoracolumbar Spine.- I. Wedge Compression Fracture.- II. Stable Burst Fracture.- III. Unstable Burst Fracture.- IV. Distraction Injury.- V. Flexion-Distraction Injury.- VI. Fracture - Dislocation.- 1. Dislocation.- 2. Fracture-Dislocation.- 3. Slice Fracture.- 4. Rotational Fracture-Dislocation.- 3 Injuries of the Intervertebral Disk and Neural Tissues.- A. Injuries of the Intervertebral Disk.- B. Accompanying Injuries of the Neural Tissues and Their Coverings.- I. Dura Mater.- II. Nerve-root Avulsion.- III. Epidural Hematoma.- IV. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.- V. Soft Tissues.- VI. Spinal Cord.- A. Diagnostic Procedure.- I. General Rules.- II. Efficacy of Imaging Methods in Spinal Trauma.- 1. Plain Film.- 2. Functional Examination.- 3. Computed Tomography.- 4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging.- 5. Myelography.- III. Sequence of Examinations.- 1. Diagnostic Imaging in Elective Treatment.- 2. Diagnostic Imaging in Urgent Treatment.- 3. Diagnostic Imaging in Life-threatening Lesions.- References.