While some are extremely painful, vertebral fractures are often asymptomatic until the spine begins to collapse.

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They published it in 2005 in a chiropractic journal called the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

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This year, when she had a second vertebral fracture, she went back to get the real thing.

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Other thieves hack their way up the vertebral column in pursuit of the skull, the most prized body part.

NEWYORKER: Bones of Contention

Punjab Singh, 65, suffered a single gunshot wound to the face that caused fractures and damage to his right carotid and vertebral arteries.

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"The peculiarity of this case is that the tip of the harpoon lodged itself between the anterior vertebral canal and the medullary canal, " he said.

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It had also been the orbicularis muscles, more than any outstanding advance in vertebral flexion, that had permitted him to access the rear areas of his scrotum and substantial portions of the papery skin around his anus before he turned nine.

NEWYORKER: Backbone

In a move with implications for the sale of T-bone steaks, he said he would make a proposal in the coming weeks, sticking "as closely as possible" to scientific advice that the vertebral column should be removed in countries where it could be shown that a ban on meat-based animal feed was not strictly enforced.

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