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Back Injury Classification

Doctors classify fractures of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine based upon pattern of back injury:

Non-surgical: This is the most common type of injury that Michigan personal injury lawyers experienced in back injury accidents will see. Because an injury is non-surgical does not mean it is not serious. Doctors usually treat compression and some burst fractures without surgery. If you have a simple compression fracture, you may need to wear a hyperextension brace for sitting and standing activities for 6-12 weeks. You should walk and do other exercises while healing and may take medication for pain. If you have a transverse process fracture, you may need to wear a thoracolumbar corset along with doing an aerobic walking program.
Compression fracture: While the front (anterior) of the vertebra breaks and loses height, the back (posterior) part of it does not. This type of fracture is usually stable and rarely associated with neurologic problems.
Axial burst fracture: You lose height on both the front and back of the vertebra in this type of fracture, often caused by a fall from height in which you land on your feet.
Flexion/distraction (chance) fracture: The vertebra is literally pulled apart (distraction), such as in a head-on car crash in which the upper body is thrown forward while the pelvis is stabilized by a lap seat belt.
Transverse process fracture: This type of fracture results from rotation or extreme sideways (lateral) bending and usually does not affect stability.
Fracture-dislocation: This is an unstable personal injury involving bone and/or soft tissue in which one vertebra may move off the adjacent one (displaced).
Treatment: Treatment goals include protecting nerve function and restoring alignment and stability of the spine. The doctor determines the best treatment method based upon fracture type and other factors.
Surgical: Some back injuries from a Michigan personal injury accident require more aggressive treatment. You may need steroids if the spinal cord is injured. You may need surgery if you have an unstable burst fracture, flexion-distraction back injury or fracture-dislocation. Surgery realigns the spinal column and holds it together using metal plates and screws (internal fixation) and/or spinal fusion.

Contact Lawrence E. Gursten or Steven M. Gursten 1-800-777-0028

AV Peer Review Rated

Michigan Auto Law is an AV RATED law firm, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethics. Very few lawyers and law firms in Michigan have been selected with this top rating.

American Association for Justice

Steve Gursten is Chair for the 2008 Interstate Truck Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Michigan Auto Law has been a long standing member and contributor to the American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA).

Michigan Super Lawyer

Top 5% of Attorneys in Michigan

Michigan Super Lawyer features only the Top 5% of attorneys in Michigan.

3 Michigan Auto Law attorneys
have been featured as

Michigan Super Lawyer:
Lawrence E. Gursten - 2007, 2006
Leonard M. Koltonow - 2007
David E. Christensen - 2007

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Only 5% of Law Firms in the U.S. Qualify

Only 5% of all U.S. law firms qualify to be included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, making Michigan Auto Law one of the most distinguished and respected in the country.

Michigan Lawyer of the Year

Steven M. Gursten was selected as "Lawyer of the Year" for 2005, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the state's largest legal periodical. Steve was selected after winning a $9 million dollar pain and suffering settlement for one of his clients - the largest settlement for pain and suffering in Michigan in over ten years.

Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)

Robert M. Raitt of Michigan Auto Law is President for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) for 2008. The attorneys at Michigan Auto Law are well-respected members of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), dedicated to helping Michigan families seek justice when they are injured by another person's negligence.