Visceral syndrome differentiation is based on visceral manifestation theory. It is a method of syndrome differentiation to judge the site and nature of disease, and the strength of the healthy qi and pathogen, according to the physiological functions and pathological manifestations of viscera, for guiding clinical treatment. Visceral manifestation theory holds that the lung dominates the skin and hair, the spleen muscles, the liver tendons, the kidney bones; and the skin, muscles, tendons and bones are dependent upon warming of qi and nourishing of visceral essences. Therefore, the severe lesions of the skin, muscles, tendons and bones often involve the lung, spleen, liver and kidney with resultant syndromes.

Young adults have abundant qi and blood, sufficient visceral qi and sound tendons and bones, their lesions can be rapidly healed. Old people have deficient qi and blood, insufficient visceral qi and weak tendons and bones, their lesions can not be rapidly healed. The symptoms in the early stage of a vertebral fracture are distending pain in the waist and abdomen which is aggravated by pressure, fever, poor appetite, dark urine, constipation, red tongue with yellow, thick and greasy coating, taut and rapid pulse.

This is caused by heat transformed by the obstruction of meridians due to stagnation of qi and blood, it is an interior-excess-heat syndrome in the middle-energizer. The treatment for it should be eliminating stasis by purging. The symptoms in the late stage of fracture of vertebrae are weakness of waist and knee, weakness of tendons and muscles, which is deteriorated on exertion and relieved by rest. This is because of the affection of qi and blood and involvement of the liver and kidney by fracture. The treatment for it should be replenishing qi and blood and nourishing the liver and kidney.