Spinal compression fractures occur when the vertebrae in the spine collapse or break due to weakened bones, often seen in conditions like osteoporosis. This can result in significant pain and limited mobility for individuals affected, but CFRS is here to help.
Potential Causes
Vertebral fractures most often result from a very hard fall or another type of injury. Most healthy bones can withstand pressure, and the spine is able to absorb the shock of sudden force. However, if the force is too strong or the spine is too weak (most often due to osteoporosis), one or more vertebrae may fracture.
Fracturing becomes more likely when the spine bends forward at the same time that downward pressure impacts the spine. For example, falling to the floor in a sitting position simultaneously bends the spine and thrusts the head forward. This posture, combined with the traumatic impact on the buttocks, concentrates pressure on the front part of the spine, and this pressure can cause a fracture. Compression fractures due to trauma can come from a fall, a forceful jump, a car accident, or any other event that stresses the spine past its breaking point.
Symptoms
A fracture caused by a sudden, forceful injury will probably produce severe pain in the back, legs, and arms. If the fracture also injures the nerves of the spine, it may result in feelings of numbness or weakness. If the bone fractures and collapses more gradually--as a result of bone thinning, for example--the pain will usually be milder. In fact, there might be no pain at all until the bone actually breaks. In severe compression fractures, parts of the back of the vertebral body may actually protrude into the spinal canal and put pressure on the spinal cord.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will take a history of the problem, and may recommend certain diagnostic tests. The most common diagnostic tool for this problem is an X-ray, which can quickly show where any vertebrae have been broken. If your doctor has any concerns about possible damage to the spinal cord, he or she may also suggest a CT scan and a myelogram. A neurological exam may also be given.
Treatment Options
The most common treatments for a thoracic compression fracture are bracing, decreasing activity, and mild pain medications. Remember that medications will not help the fracture to heal, but they can help control pain. Vertebral fractures usually take about three months to heal fully. Non-surgical, minimally-invasive procedures, such as kyphoplasty, can also be used to treat compression fractures. Surgery might be necessary to prevent the bone from collapsing onto spinal nerves and causing more serious damage. Your doctor may suggest some type of internal fixation to hold the vertebra in the proper position while it heals. In addition, the surgeon may need to remove any bone fragments that put too much pressure on the spinal cord.
Compression Fracture Q & A
What is a compression fracture?
What symptoms does a compression fracture cause?
What treatments are available for a compression fracture?
What is a compression fracture?
A compression fracture occurs when a bone breaks because it's not strong enough to support the weight it usually carries. Rather than snapping or shattering, the bone flattens and compresses. Vertebral compression fractures are the most common type. Vertebral compression fractures are sometimes due to traumatic injuries like falls or auto accidents. Tumors in or on your spine can also make the bone so weak it collapses. The leading cause of vertebral compression fractures, however, is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones lose their density, making them weak and brittle. If you have advanced osteoporosis, your bones can fracture easily, even when you're doing everyday activities, and vertebrae are especially vulnerable.
What symptoms does a compression fracture cause?
The main symptoms of a vertebral compression fracture are pain and spinal deformity. When the fracture occurs, you might have back and neck pain that worsens if you cough or sneeze. When you have one vertebral compression fracture, others are likely to follow, compounding your pain. If you've got several vertebral compression fractures, you might have a hunched appearance in your upper back. This condition, known as kyphosis, develops because most vertebral compression fractures affect the front of the bone, so the vertebra becomes wedge-shaped. A series of wedge-shaped vertebrae creates a curvature at the top of your back that's known as a dowager's hump.
What treatments are available for a compression fracture?
To address the immediate pain and disability, the team at Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine can perform either:
Vertebroplasty
Minimally invasive vertebroplasty is a procedure in which your provider injects a special medical cement into the compression fracture using imaging technology to guide the needle. The glue strengthens and stabilizes the vertebra, reducing your back pain.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty uses a similar technique to vertebroplasty but has an extra stage. Before injecting the bone cement, your provider inflates a tiny balloon inside the affected vertebra that raises the bone to a more normal height. Kyphoplasty can help reduce the severity of your kyphosis to stabilize your spine and lessen back pain. In addition to treating your vertebral compression fracture, it's important to take steps to slow osteoporosis progression if that's the reason for your condition. This may mean taking bisphosphonates and monoclonal antibody medications to strengthen your vertebrae and reduce the risk of further compression fractures.
If you're experiencing back pain or developing a dowager's hump, call Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
