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Osteoporosis and Spinal Fractures
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As we get older, our bones thin and our bone strength decreases. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become very weak and more likely to break. It often develops unnoticed over many years, with no symptoms or discomfort until a bone breaks.
Fractures caused by osteoporosis most often occur in the spine.They are almost twice as common as other fractures typically linked to osteoporosis, such as broken hips and wrists.
Not all vertebral compression fractures are due to osteoporosis. But when the disease is involved, a fracture is often a patient’s first sign of a weakened skeleton from osteoporosis.
Symptoms of Spinal Fractures
A vertebral compression fracture causes back pain. The pain typically occurs near the break itself. Vertebral compression fractures most commonly occur near the waistline, as well as slightly above it or below it.
The pain often gets worse with motion, particularly when you are changing positions. It is often relieved by rest or lying down.
Coughing and sneezing can also make the pain increase. Although the pain may move to other areas of the body, this is uncommon.
Types of spinal fractures
Compression Fracture: This is often caused by osteoporosis or a tumor and rarely has spinal cord or nerve involvement. The front of the vertebra fractures and loses height however the back, posterior, part remains stable. It can be painful or asymptomatic and is usually a stable fracture.
Axial Burst Fraction: This is usually caused from a fall from a significant height, landing on the feet. The vertebra loses height on both the front and back side; depending on the stability of the fracture this may require surgery.
Chance Fracture: This fracture is known as a “seat-belt injury” and is caused by a violent forward flexed injury. The vertebra is pulled apart, often from a car accident where the upper body is pulled forward while the pelvis is stabilized by a lap only seatbelt.
Causes of Spinal Fractures
Osteoporosis is a natural aging phenomenon; as we get older, our bones weaken. When the vertebrae in the spine weaken, they can narrow and become flatter. This can make elderly patients shorter and lead to a rounded back, a hump or a “bent forward look” to the spine.
As osteoporosis progresses, the vertebrae weaken and become flatter. This can cause a severely rounded back.
The weakened vertebrae are at a high risk for fracture. A vertebral compression fracture occurs when too much pressure is placed on a weakened vertebra and the front of it cracks and loses height. Vertebral compression fractures are often the result of a fall, but people with osteoporosis can suffer a fracture even when doing everyday things, such as reaching, twisting, coughing, and sneezing.
A vertebral compression fracture (arrow) has a wedged-shaped appearance. The front of the vertebra has cracked and shortened while the back remains intact.
You are in Great Hands
Comprehensive treatment of Spinal fractures
Fortunately, most people who suffer a vertebral compression fracture get better within 3 months without specific treatment to repair the fracture. Simple measures, such as a short period of rest and limited use of pain medications, are often all that is required. In some cases, patients are instructed to wear a brace to restrict movement and allow the vertebral compression fracture to heal.
If your doctor has also diagnosed osteoporosis, you are at increased risk for additional vertebral compression fractures and other fractures, such as to the hip and wrist. Your doctor will address treatments for bone density loss during this time.
When a painful compression fracture doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty treatments may be considered.
Kyphoplasty: This procedure helps correct the bone deformity and relieves the pain associated with spinal compression fractures.
vertebroplasty procedure. This is a minimally invasive surgical treatment performed through a small puncture in the patient’s skin.
