Case study 134 - Cervical spinal cord injury from diving Flexion teardrop fractures represent a fracture pattern occurring in severe axial/flexion injury of the cervical spine. They are important to recognize because they indicate extensive underlying ligamentous injury and spinal instability. Associated spinal cord injury is common, especially anterior cervical cord syndrome and quadriplegia. The injury typically occurs from severe flexion and compression forces (e.g. diving impact, deceleratio