Sort of explosion shattered column in the back (13)
I believe the answer is:
thermonuclear
'sort of explosion' is the definition.
'shattered column in the back' is the wordplay.
'shattered' indicates an anagram.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'back' becomes 'rear' (synonyms).
'column' is an anagram of 'monucl'.
'the'+'rear'='therear'
'monucl' put into 'therear' is 'THERMONUCLEAR'.
(Other definitions for thermonuclear that I've seen before include "H- (as in H-bomb)" , "Like atomic weapons" , "Like reactions inside stars and some weapons" , "As some bombs" .)