Spinal Fracture

Symptoms:

  • Sudden acute pain in the back or neck due to trauma.
  • Pain that gets worse on movement, standing or walking.
  • Shortening of stature or a hunched appearance especially in compression fractures caused by osteoporosis.
  • Numbness, tingling or weakness in case the fracture damages the neighboring nerves.
  • In severe cases there is urinary and fecal incontinence (a serious medical condition).

Causes:

  • Traumatic events like a fall car accident or sports injury.
  • Osteoporosis that leads to a fracture even under slight pressure.
  • Repetitive strain to the spine causing stress fractures.
  • Bone lesions or tumors that weaken the vertebral bones.
  • High impact injury in young people who are otherwise healthy.

Risk Factors:

  • Osteoporosis or decreased bone density more in older people.
  • Older age.
  • Engagement in high-impact sports.
  • Taking long term steroids that make bones weak.
  • A history of spinal fractures or major trauma.

Ways to Manage:

  • Immediate evaluation and imaging following suspicion of spinal injuries.
  • Bracing and immobilization of the spine to facilitate bone fracture healing.
  • Medication-based pain relief according to medical advice.
  • Treatment of osteoporosis to increase bone strength and prevent future fractures.
  • Slow and controlled rehabilitation as the bone fracture heals.
  • Light walking exercise upon clearance from a physician.
  • Focus on posture-related exercises to help spinal bone healing.
  • Weight-bearing exercises to strengthen bones after a clearance from a physician.
  • Balance exercise to decrease the risk of falls particularly among elderly individuals.
  • Avoid bending, twisting, and lifting heavy loads until cleared by a doctor.

Most spinal fractures do not require surgery since they can be treated using bracing and immobilization. Surgical procedures may be required in cases where the bone fracture is unstable causes nerve compression or does not heal appropriately.

  • Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty – bone cement injection to stabilize a compression fracture.
  • Instrumentation spinal fusion – in case of an unstable spinal bone fracture.
  • Spinal decompression – in case of nerve or spinal cord compression.