SPINAL FRACTURES
WHAT IS A SPINAL FRACTURE?
Your spine, made up of bones (Vertebra), provides structure and protection to the nerves (spinal cord) in your back. A compression fracture occurs when the vertebra become compressed due to trauma. Often times the trauma necessary to break the bones of the spine is quite substantial. In patients that are elderly, or cancer patients, bones can become fragile and break with little to no force. Though the lumbar spine is typically the most common area to fracture, compression fractures can happen at any part of the spine.
WHAT CAUSES SPINAL FRACTURES?
Normally, the bones that make up your spine (vertebra) can withstand heavy forces. For a healthy individual, it would take a very traumatic or powerful force to cause a fracture. This can happen via a hard slip & fall, motor vehicle accident, or sport-related injury.
However, for individuals who suffer from bone density complications (osteoporosis, bone cancers, etc.) compression fractures can happen with even slight forces.
WHAT DOES A SPINAL FRACTURE FEEL LIKE?
The symptoms of a spinal fracture include:
- Neck Pain (Cervical Spine Pain)
- Upper Back Pain (Thoracic Spine pain)
- Lower Back Pain (Lumbar Spine Pain)
- Sudden pain when lying down or walking
- Loss of spinal mobility
The severity and location of the symptoms depend on location of fracture.
HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE A SPINAL FRACTURE?
In order to properly diagnose a spinal fracture, your physician will obtain a detailed medical history and conduct a thorough physical exam. The physical exam may require patients to walk or bend at the waist in order to assess patient’s spinal mobility.
For further confirmation, or exploration of associated symptoms or underlying causes, your physician may recommend extra studies in the form of X-Rays, MRIs, CTs, Nerve Tests, and/or bone density tests.
HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE A SPINAL FRACTURE?
In order to properly diagnose a spinal fracture, your physician will obtain a detailed medical history and conduct a thorough physical exam. The physical exam may require patients to walk or bend at the waist in order to assess patient’s spinal mobility.
For further confirmation, or exploration of associated symptoms or underlying causes, your physician may recommend extra studies in the form of X-Rays, MRIs, CTs, Nerve Tests, and/or bone density tests.
HOW DO YOU TREAT A SPINAL FRACTURE?
Generally, it is advised to have conservative care as a first line treatment option for most spinal related conditions. This may include but not limited to physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen or naproxen), acetaminophen, bracing, and/or rest.
When conservative methods fail to improve patient’s symptoms or the patient’s condition is too severe to treat conservatively, then surgical treatment options are recommended.