Surgeon weighs in on what IndyCar driver Stefan Wilson's 12-T vertebra injury could mean

INDIANAPOLIS -- After IndyCar driver Stefan Wilson crashed Monday during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his team announced he had fractured his 12th thoracic vertebra, Dr. David Schwartz knew that injury could be very bad.

Or it could be something very minor.

"Just knowing T-12 without what kind of fracture, it could be anything from extremely minor where sometimes we don't do anything for it, not even a brace," said Dr. Schwartz, an orthopedic spine surgeon with OrthoIndy who is not involved in Wilson's treatment, "to somebody we put a brace on, to someone who has surgery, to someone who is paralyzed."

Wilson's team, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, announced the T-12 fracture with few other details of his injury Monday evening, saying "he will stay overnight for further tests and observation."

The team also announced Wilson "will not be allowed to compete" in Sunday's Indianapolis 500 Race. It was announced Graham Rahal will drive for the team Sunday.

Wilson went on Twitter with the following update: "Doing well all things considered. Really thankful for the support showed to me over the last 24 hours. ... I'm focused on recovery and getting ready for 2024."

Wilson not competing doesn't necessarily mean his injury is serious, said Dr. Schwartz, who for 18 years took care of spine trauma patients at IU Health Methodist Hospital, including IndyCar drivers.

"Even a minor fracture can be very painful," he said. "And just from the stability standpoint, if he would get into another accident, we worry about a more serious injury occurring."

Dr. Schwartz outlined for IndyStar the intricacies that will decide just how serious Wilson's injury could be.

With this injury 'you can be totally fine'

There are 12 thoracic (chest) vertebrae in the body and the 12th is located just before the lower lumbar spine starts.

A fracture means the bone is broken and fractures are classified into several different types.

"The simplest fracture, least dangerous is a compression fracture where the anterior part of the body has a little crunch to it," said Dr. Schwartz.

The second classification is a burst fracture, "where the middle part of the fracture is pushed into the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord," he said. "Then the last section would be a posterior fracture where the joints and everything are torn and fractured."

All three of those types of fractures can occur without neurological injury. "You don't have to be paralyzed," Dr. Schwartz said. "Any of those three things can happen and you can be totally fine."

Another possible injury to a T-12 vertebra is a fracture dislocation where that bone is no longer lined up where it's supposed to be.

"And then the most serious type is where you have one of those things and a neurologic injury," said Dr. Schwarz. That neurological injury would be caused by the fracture pushing back into the spinal canal where the spinal cord is and with that comes paralysis."

Before Wilson was rolled into the ambulance Monday, he could be seen lifting his right arm twice to give the crowd a thumbs up.

"Hopefully he doesn't need surgery, but if he does it's usually within 24 to 48 hours unless there are other injuries," Dr. Schwartz said. "We try to get them mobilized and get going as quickly as possible."

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Stefan Wilson: What IndyCar driver's 12-T vertebra injury could mean