Which statement is true about the “three-column concept” of spinal fracture stability?

D. Instability results from significant bone and/or soft tissue injury in two columns.

DISCUSSION: Denis developed a classification system for a thoracolumbar spine injury based on a three-column concept. In this system, the spine is divided into three longitudinal regions or columns: anterior, middle, and posterior. Although references to such “columns” is anatomically imprecise, the term is clinically useful in assessing the stability of the injured spine. In general, instability results when significant disruption is present in two of the three columns, regardless of the presence or absence of neurologic deficit.