https://phemcast.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/final-gentle-patient-handlig.mp3
The paper we mentioned by Jonathan Benger and Jules Blackham can be accessed here:
https://sjtrem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-7241-17-44
Stable versus unstable spinal injuryThe location of an injury and involvement of different structures defines the stability of a spinal injury.
Anterior column: anterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior half of the vertebral body/disc.
Middle column: posterior half of the vertebral body/disc and the posterior longitudinal ligament.
Posterior column: facet joints, ligamentum flavum, the spinous processes and the interconnecting ligaments.
An injury involving only the anterior column is considered to be stable, as will an isolated fracture of a spinous or transverse process. An unstable injury is one which involves all 3 columns and often one in which 2 columns are disrupted.
References