What are the most effective treatments for spinal compression fractures. How do medications, surgical procedures, and non-invasive therapies contribute to pain relief and bone healing. What role does osteoporosis management play in preventing future fractures.

Understanding Spinal Compression Fractures: Causes and Symptoms

Spinal compression fractures occur when the vertebrae in the spine collapse, often due to weakened bones caused by osteoporosis. These fractures can lead to severe pain, limited mobility, and a significant impact on quality of life. Recognizing the symptoms and understanding the underlying causes is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

Common Causes of Spinal Compression Fractures

• Osteoporosis
• Traumatic injury
• Cancer or tumors affecting the spine
• Long-term use of certain medications

Why do spinal compression fractures often go undiagnosed? Many individuals mistake the pain for general back discomfort or attribute it to the natural aging process. However, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for optimal recovery and prevention of further complications.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Spinal Compression Fractures

Conservative management is often the first line of treatment for spinal compression fractures. These non-invasive approaches focus on pain relief, bone healing, and preventing future fractures.

Pain Management Strategies

How can pain from spinal compression fractures be effectively managed? A multifaceted approach typically yields the best results:

1. Over-the-counter pain medications (acetaminophen and NSAIDs)
2. Prescription pain relievers for severe cases
3. Short-term use of muscle relaxants
4. Antidepressants for nerve-related pain

Dr. F. Todd Wetzel, professor of orthopaedics and neurosurgery at Temple University School of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of a carefully prescribed “cocktail” of pain medications to address various aspects of discomfort while minimizing individual drug doses.

Activity Modification and Physical Therapy

Is bed rest recommended for spinal compression fractures? While short periods of rest may help with acute pain, prolonged inactivity can lead to further bone loss and increased risk of future fractures. Instead, a balanced approach to activity modification is crucial:

• Limited bed rest (no more than a few days)
• Gradual return to normal activities
• Gentle exercises to improve strength and flexibility
• Physical therapy to enhance posture and body mechanics

Back Bracing: Support and Stability

How do back braces contribute to the healing process? Back braces provide external support to limit the motion of fractured vertebrae, similar to a cast on a broken wrist. However, their use should be carefully monitored:

• Rigid braces offer significant motion limitation but may be less comfortable
• Elastic braces and corsets provide comfort but may be less effective
• Braces should be used under a doctor’s supervision to prevent muscle weakening

Dr. Wetzel notes, “The inconvenience of the brace is directly proportional to its effectiveness,” highlighting the balance between support and comfort.

Medications for Osteoporosis Management and Fracture Prevention

Addressing the underlying osteoporosis is crucial for preventing future spinal compression fractures. What medications are commonly prescribed for this purpose?

• Bisphosphonates (e.g., Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax)
• Hormone therapy
• Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
• Parathyroid hormone analogs
• RANK ligand inhibitors

These medications work to stabilize or restore bone density, reducing the risk of subsequent fractures. Regular bone density scans and close monitoring by a healthcare provider are essential for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Surgical Interventions for Spinal Compression Fractures

When conservative treatments fail to provide adequate pain relief or stabilization, surgical options may be considered. Modern surgical techniques offer minimally invasive solutions with shorter recovery times and improved outcomes.

Vertebroplasty: Stabilizing Fractured Vertebrae

How does vertebroplasty work to alleviate pain and stabilize spinal fractures? This minimally invasive procedure involves:

1. Inserting a needle into the damaged vertebra under X-ray guidance
2. Injecting a bone cement mixture into the fractured area
3. Allowing the cement to harden, stabilizing the vertebra

Patients typically experience immediate pain relief and can often return home the same day or after a brief hospital stay.

Kyphoplasty: Restoring Vertebral Height and Alignment

How does kyphoplasty differ from vertebroplasty? Kyphoplasty aims to correct bone deformity in addition to stabilizing the fracture:

1. A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the vertebra
2. The balloon is inflated to create a cavity and restore vertebral height
3. Bone cement is injected into the cavity after balloon removal
4. The procedure helps restore spinal alignment and reduce kyphosis

Like vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty often results in rapid pain relief and improved mobility for patients with spinal compression fractures.

Spinal Fusion Surgery: Complex Cases and Severe Deformities

When might spinal fusion surgery be necessary for compression fractures? This more extensive surgical option is typically reserved for cases involving:

• Severe spinal instability
• Neurological complications
• Significant deformity or kyphosis
• Failed conservative treatments and minimally invasive procedures

Spinal fusion involves joining two or more vertebrae to provide stability and alleviate pain. While recovery time is longer than with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, it can offer significant long-term benefits for carefully selected patients.

Innovative Treatments and Future Directions

The field of spinal compression fracture treatment continues to evolve, with new technologies and approaches emerging. What cutting-edge treatments are on the horizon?

Biologics and Growth Factors

How can biologics enhance fracture healing? Researchers are exploring the use of:

• Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) to stimulate bone formation
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to accelerate tissue repair
• Stem cell therapies to promote regeneration of bone and surrounding tissues

These advanced treatments hold promise for improving outcomes and reducing recovery times for patients with spinal compression fractures.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

How is robotic technology enhancing surgical precision? Robotic-assisted spine surgery offers several potential benefits:

• Increased accuracy in implant placement
• Reduced radiation exposure for patients and surgical teams
• Minimally invasive approaches with smaller incisions
• Potential for faster recovery and improved outcomes

As these technologies continue to advance, they may become more widely available for treating spinal compression fractures and other spine conditions.

Comprehensive Care: The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Approach

Effective management of spinal compression fractures often requires a team of healthcare professionals working together. Why is a multidisciplinary approach crucial for optimal outcomes?

Key Team Members in Spinal Fracture Care

• Orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons
• Pain management specialists
• Physical therapists and occupational therapists
• Endocrinologists for osteoporosis management
• Nutritionists for bone health optimization
• Mental health professionals to address psychological impacts

By addressing all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being, a multidisciplinary team can provide comprehensive care that extends beyond fracture treatment to improve overall quality of life.

Patient Education and Empowerment

How does patient education contribute to better outcomes? Empowering patients with knowledge about their condition and treatment options is essential for:

• Promoting adherence to treatment plans
• Encouraging lifestyle modifications to support bone health
• Recognizing early signs of potential complications
• Participating actively in decision-making about their care

Healthcare providers play a crucial role in educating patients and their families about spinal compression fractures, treatment options, and long-term management strategies.

Long-Term Management and Prevention of Future Fractures

Successfully treating a spinal compression fracture is just the beginning. What strategies can help prevent future fractures and maintain overall spine health?

Lifestyle Modifications for Bone Health

• Regular weight-bearing and resistance exercises
• Balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Smoking cessation and limiting alcohol intake
• Fall prevention measures at home and in daily activities

Ongoing Monitoring and Treatment Adjustments

How often should patients with a history of spinal compression fractures be evaluated? Regular follow-up appointments are crucial for:

• Assessing bone density and fracture risk
• Adjusting medications as needed
• Monitoring for potential complications
• Addressing any new or persistent symptoms

By maintaining vigilant long-term care, patients can significantly reduce their risk of future fractures and maintain their quality of life.

As research continues and treatment options expand, the outlook for patients with spinal compression fractures continues to improve. With a comprehensive approach that combines pain management, fracture stabilization, and osteoporosis treatment, many individuals can achieve significant pain relief and return to their daily activities. The key lies in early diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection, and ongoing management to prevent future fractures and maintain overall spine health.

Spinal Compression Fracture Treatments: Medication, Surgery, and More

If osteoporosis has caused a spinal compression fracture, the treatment should address the pain, the fracture, and the underlying osteoporosis to prevent future fractures.

All components of treatment have improved greatly in the last decade, says Michael Schaufele, MD, a physiatrist and professor of orthopaedics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. “We have better interventional options to treat fractures and better treatments to prevent future fractures,” he tells WebMD.

The majority of fractures heal with pain medication, reduction in activity, medications to stabilize bone density, and a good back brace to minimize motion during the healing process. Most people return to their everyday activities. Some may need further treatment, such as surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Compression Fractures

Pain from a spinal compression fracture allowed to heal naturally can last as long as three months. But the pain usually improves significantly in a matter of days or weeks.

Pain management may include analgesic pain medicines, bed rest, back bracing, and physical activity.

Pain medications. A carefully prescribed “cocktail” of pain medications can relieve bone-on-bone, muscle, and nerve pain, explains F. Todd Wetzel, MD, professor of orthopaedics and neurosurgery at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. “If it’s prescribed correctly, you can reduce doses of the individual drugs in the cocktail.”

Over-the-counter pain medications are often sufficient in relieving pain. Two types of non-prescription medications — acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — are recommended. Narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants are often prescribed for short periods of time, since there is risk of addiction. Antidepressants can also help relieve nerve-related pain.

Activity modification. Bed rest may help with acute pain, but it can also lead to further bone loss and worsening osteoporosis, which raises your risk for future compression fractures. Doctors may recommend a short period of bed rest for no more than a few days. However, prolonged inactivity should be avoided.

Back bracing. A back brace provides external support to limit the motion of fractured vertebrae — much like applying a cast on a broken wrist. The rigid style of a back brace limits spine-related motion significantly, which may help reduce pain. Newer elastic braces and corsets are more comfortable to wear but don’t work, says Wetzel. “There’s an old saying, ‘The inconvenience of the brace is directly proportional to its effectiveness,'” he tells WebMD. However, braces should be used cautiously and only under a doctor’s supervision. Weakening and loss of muscle can occur with excessive use of braces for lumbar conditions.

Osteoporosis treatment. Bone-strengthening drugs such as bisphosphonates (such as Actonel, Boniva, and Fosamax) help stabilize or restore bone loss. This is a critical part of treatment to help prevent further compression fractures.

Surgical Treatment for Spinal Compression Fractures

When chronic pain from a spinal compression fracture persists despite rest, activity modification, back bracing, and pain medication, surgery is the next step. Surgical procedures used to treat spinal fractures are:

• Vertebroplasty
• Kyphoplasty
• Spinal fusion surgery

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

These procedures for spinal compression fractures involve small, minimally invasive incisions, so they require very little healing time. They also use acrylic bone cement that hardens quickly, stabilizing the spinal bone fragments and therefore stabilizing the spine immediately. Most patients go home the same day or after one night’s hospital stay.

Vertebroplasty. This procedure is effective for relieving pain from spinal compression fractures and helping to stabilize the fracture. During this procedure:

• A needle is inserted into the damaged vertebrae.
• X-rays help ensure that it’s done with accuracy.
• The doctor injects a bone cement mixture into the fractured vertebrae.
• The cement mixture hardens in about 10 minutes.
• The patient typically goes home the same day or after a one-night hospital stay.

Kyphoplasty: This procedure helps correct the bone deformity and relieves the pain associated with spinal compression fractures. During the procedure:

• A tube is inserted through a half inch cut in the back into the damaged vertebrae. X-rays help ensure the accuracy of the procedure.
• A thin catheter tube — with a balloon at the tip — is guided into the vertebra.
• The balloon is inflated to create a cavity in which liquid bone cement is injected.
• The balloon is then deflated and removed, and bone cement is injected into the cavity.
• The cement mixture hardens in about 10 minutes.

“These procedures are amazing, when you look at how well patients do,” says Rex Marco, MD, chief of spine surgery and musculoskeletal oncology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “They’re often in terrible, terrible pain, and it’s not going away. But with two small incisions we can take care of something that needed a huge operation in the past but without really good results.”

“We do everything we can to make the operation go as smoothly as possible,” says Marco. “Antibiotics decrease the chance of infection. And a special x-ray machine helps us get the needle into the bone and assure that cement goes into the bone and stays in the bone.”

Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion surgery is sometimes used for spinal compression fractures to eliminate motion between two vertebrae and relieve pain. The procedure connects two or more vertebrae together, holds them in the correct position, and keeps them from moving until they have a chance to grow together, or fuse.

Metal screws are placed through a small tube of bone and into the vertebrae. The screws are attached to metal plates or metal rods that are bolted together in the back of the spine. The hardware holds the vertebrae in place. This stops movement, allowing the vertebrae to fuse. Bone is grafted into the spaces between vertebrae.

“Spinal fusion is often the last resort,” Wetzel tells WebMD. “If the bone is more than 50% compressed in height, if patients are in a great deal of pain, and if they have had complications from another spinal surgery, we suggest spinal fusion surgery.”

The patient’s own bone or bone from a bone bank can be used to create a graft. The patient’s own bone marrow or blood platelets — or a bio-engineered molecule — can be used to stimulate growth of bone for the procedure.

Recovery from spinal fusion surgery takes longer than with other types of spinal surgery. Patients often have a three- or four-day hospital stay, with a possible stay on a rehabilitation unit. Patients typically wear a brace immediately after surgery. Rehabilitation is often necessary to rebuild strength and functioning. Activity level is gradually increased. Depending on the patient’s age and health status, getting back to normal functioning can happen within two months or up to six months later.

There are drawbacks to spinal fusion surgery. It eliminates the natural movement of the two vertebrae, which limits the person’s movement. Also, it puts more stress on vertebrae next to the fusion – increasing the chance of fracture in those vertebrae. Even after healing is complete, patients may need to avoid certain lifting and twisting activities to prevent putting excess stress on the spine.

“But if someone has persistent pain from the fracture and they have been aggressively treated for osteoporosis they can do very well with spinal fusion,” says Wetzel.

Vertebral Compression Fractures in the Elderly

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Everything You Should Know about Spinal Compression Fractures

Your spine is the central support for your trunk, neck and head. As a result, it plays a critical role in maintaining bodily architecture, conveying neural impulses to and from the brain, and anchoring key musculature. Because it plays so many important roles in physiological function, any problems involving the spine can be challenging to identify and remedy.

One of the most painful and problematic spine conditions is spinal compression fractures. Spinal compression fractures are breakages of the spinal vertebrae (bones that make up the spinal column). They often result from weakened bone caused by osteoporosis. Spinal compression fracture symptoms may be triggered by bending down and forward.

Although most spinal compression fractures resolve eventually on their own, they can result in diminished height and a humped back. There are a variety of pain management techniques if severe or lingering pain is the primary compression fracture symptom. There are also some surgical options available to stabilize the spine.

A spinal compression fracture is a relatively common occurrence, especially among seniors.   Almost 1.5 million spinal compression fractures occur annually in the U.S., and almost a quarter of all post-menopausal women will experience one during their lifetime.

Why Is the Spine So Vulnerable?

The spine is a strong but complex structure composed of 24 bony vertebrae. Each of these bones is connected to other bones and muscles via ligaments and tendons.  Furthermore, the 24 vertebrae are designed to house and protect the spinal cord, the primary neural pathway from the brain. There are spaces in each vertebra that allow the spinal cord to traverse its length as well as allow nerves to connect with it.

Each of the bones—as well as the joints between them—of the spine serves a variety of crucial functions. As we age, the bone as well as the connective tissue between them often degrade.   If a vertebra weakens and is exposed to undue pressure, there is a high probability that one of these bones could fracture.

Spinal Compression Fracture Symptoms

Although most people think of a bone fracture as an explosive event, in many cases, a spinal compression fracture may occur gradually over time.  Compression fracture symptoms usually start with tiny cracks in the bone that produce back pain. Eventually, if fracturing spreads, the entire vertebra will collapse. Most patients that exhibit spinal compression fractures usually see breakages in the front part of the vertebrae, where the bone is weaker.

Other symptoms include:

• Worsening pain while walking or standing
• Difficulty bending or twisting at the waist
• Lost height
• Arched back
• Digestion issues including constipation, diminished appetite or weight loss
• Hip pain
• Difficulty breathing

In some cases, someone with a spinal compression fracture may not feel any pain at all; for others, this pain may be mild.  Among select patients, this pain caused by spinal compression may be chronic.

Diagnosing Spinal Compression Fractures

Almost two-thirds of patients with spinal compression fractures are never properly diagnosed because they consider back pain merely a side effect of aging. Even for many seasoned physicians, it can be difficult to distinguish between a spinal compression fracture and other common health conditions like arthritis or a muscle strain.

Although it may not seem like it, it is good news that spinal compression fractures are the most common symptom of osteoporosis. Almost 66,000 office visits and more than 45,000 hospital stays every year are related to spinal compression fractures. Because vertebral compression fractures occur so often, your physician is likely to check for it if you present with the following conditions

• Back pain that starts with lifting, position change, coughing or sneezing
• Lingering back pain that worsens over time
• Bulge in the vertebral area
• Pain that radiates to the legs

If your physician suspects that a spinal compression fracture has occurred, then they may order an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or bone scan.  Your physician may also recommend a bone density test to determine if your bones are weaker than normal.  If your bone density is low, then this may prove problematic during healing and treatment.

How to Treat Spinal Compression Fractures

Depending on the type of spinal compression fracture symptoms you are experiencing and any relevant health conditions—especially your bone health—your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments.

• Bed rest—in many cases, a spinal compression fracture may heal on its own if given time. Many physicians may allow up to three months of non-intervention for the compression fracture symptoms to resolve independently. Most medical experts recommend only a few days of actual inactivity.
• Back brace—if your doctor thinks that the fracture can heal on its own, they may recommend a support device to keep your back rigid.  Although a back brace will limit spinal movement so that bones can knit at an optimal pace, there is the risk of weakening back muscles which can raise the risk of other back conditions.
• Pain management—many patients expect their doctor to prescribe the most powerful pain relievers available for a spinal compression fracture, but most people find that they can manage their pain effectively with just over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or acetaminophen. If the pain is chronic and severe, your physician may prescribe opioid pain killers but only for limited periods of time.
• Vertebroplasty—this surgical procedure is minimally invasive and helps to stabilize a damaged vertebra.  An X-ray-guided needle is inserted into the spine, and a bone cement compound is injected. This compound hardens in less than ten minutes, stabilizing the fractured bone, and most patients are able to return home that same day or the next day.
• Kyphoplasty—this surgical operation corrects bone deformations resulting from a spinal compression fracture.  Like a vertebroplasty, a bone cement is used to secure a damaged vertebra, but this procedure uses a tiny balloon to create a space into which the compound is inserted.
• Spinal fusion surgery—if it is necessary to minimize motion between two or more spinal vertebrae, then doctors may use spinal fusion surgery. Plates or rods are usually inserted to keep parts of the spine rigid, limiting pain and compression.

Article written by: Dr. Robert Moghim – CEO/Founder Colorado Pain Care

M.D. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the personal views of Robert Moghim, M.D. and do not necessarily represent and are not intended to represent the views of the company or its employees.  The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship.  Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. The comment feature is not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any of your private health information.

Neck Fracture Treatment & Recovery Options

A neck fracture can happen from a fall, a car wreck, or violence. If you’re older or have weak bones from disease, even a sudden, hard twist can break your neck. However it happens, this kind of trauma is serious and scary. A neck fracture can paralyze you or even lead to death.

If you fracture your neck, you’ll feel extreme pain, swelling, and a loss of feeling in your arms and legs. You shouldn’t be moved, and you should go to the hospital right away.

The First Step After a Neck Fracture

After neck trauma, we want to keep the injury from getting worse. To prevent a spinal cord injury, we’ll need to first:

• Keep you still (immobile)
• Stabilize your body

If the fracture has caused shock or obstructed your airway, we’ll need to give you fluids or a breathing tube.

We’re on the scene: You’ll start getting treated right away by our experienced emergency team.

Injury Diagnosis & Evaluation

A series of imaging scans will help your care team know:

• How bad the fracture is
• Which neck bones have broken (you have 7 total) 
• Which part of the bones are broken
• Whether there is temporary or permanent spinal cord or nerve injury

At UVA, you’ll get fast, expert care in our Level 1 Trauma Center.

Your neck, made up of 7 cervical bones, forms part of your spine. These bones protect your spinal cord. They hold your neck and head and make it possible for you to move. Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Neck Fracture Treatment Options

You can have different kinds of damage from a neck fracture. How you get treated depends on the details of your injury.

Neck Brace or Collar

If you only have a minor break, wearing a neck brace or collar for up to 8 weeks will help you heal. These devices keep your neck in line while it heals.

Traction

If you have a severe or unstable fracture, you might need traction. Traction allows for very little movement. You’ll have to wear rigid braces or a halo vest to steady your spine. During this time, you won’t be able to drive or do other activities. This treatment can take up to 12 weeks, while your fracture heals.

Surgery

A lot of damage to your neck, spine, and the vertebrae may need surgery. Surgical procedures can:

• Reconnect pieces of bone and hold them in place
• Repair vertebrae on your spine
• Relieve pressure on your spinal cord
• Remove damaged vertebrae discs

Some surgeries may include using plates, screws, or wires. Our surgeons have experience finding the least painful and risky solution possible.

2 Common Spinal Conditions in Seniors and the Elderly

Believe it or not, by 2056 there will be more senior citizens than kids according to the U.S. Census. Truly, the aging population is on the rise. The Census also estimates that by 2029 the over-65 crowd will comprise 20% of the total population.

And as we age, so do our spines. While there are a number of possible back conditions that you or your loved ones may encounter, the more common of these are usually related to osteoporosis and degenerative changes that affect discs and other structures.

Pascal Broze / Getty Images

Spinal Fractures

If you’re female and over 70, you may know the pain and inconvenience of an osteoporotic fracture. Common among baby boomers and older generations, an osteoporosis-related spinal (or ​other types of) fracture can result in constant, nagging back pain. The discomfort may affect your daily activities and have a negative impact on your emotions or relationships.​

Vertebral fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures. Sometimes the back pain that results from a vertebral fracture mimics symptoms of other diseases or conditions. This is why diagnostic imaging is important. Tests like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans can help evaluate compression and wedge fractures. In addition, a bone density test may tell you definitively if you have osteoporosis. Bone biopsies are also used to confirm osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that affects post-menopausal women in particular. When you have osteoporosis, your bone mass decreases faster than it can be built back up. Bone mass is made up of protein, as well as the minerals calcium and phosphorous.

Fractures due to osteoporosis can occur after trauma, but they can also come about with no apparent cause.

The good news, though, is that many cases of vertebral compression fractures (the most common type) improve within 3 months without any treatment at all, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The Academy suggests taking simple measures while you’re healing, such as limited use of pain medications and taking time to rest as needed. Your doctor may prescribe a brace for you to wear, as well.

Surgery for Spinal Fractures

About one-quarter of osteoporosis fracture cases don’t respond well to conservative care, such as physical therapy, medication, or simply waiting it out. So if your pain is severe and it doesn’t get better with conservative measures, it may then be time to consider surgery. Discuss your options with your doctor to be sure.

Two types of procedures are commonly used to surgically treat spinal fractures: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Both are minimally invasive and will likely allow you to recover relatively quickly and easily. They involve injecting cement into your bone to help mend it, and in some cases, to restore the height of the vertebra.

Hyperkyphosis

Vertebral fractures often lead to a posture condition called hyperkyphosis, also known as age-related hyperkyphosis. While hyperkyphosis can be caused by a number of things about a third of the time, they are a result of spinal fractures in the elderly population. As the name suggests, hyperkyphosis is a deformity in which the normal kyphotic curve in the thoracic spine (located in your upper and mid-back areas) becomes excessive or exaggerated.

Disc Degeneration

Degeneration of spinal structures is somewhat inevitable as we age. It can occur in any of the structures that make up your back, including the discs, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and more. Most of the time, non-surgical treatment can relieve the pain in your back and increase your physical functioning.

Sometimes, though, conservative methods fail and your doctor may suggest surgery. This is especially true if you have severe and/or unrelenting pain or your pain is due to radiculopathy (symptoms such as sciatica that are caused by an irritated spinal nerve root) or myelopathy (symptoms caused by disruption or compression to the spinal cord).

Degeneration in spinal discs is the most common type of spinal degeneration and often the first type to develop. Degenerating spinal discs can lead to degenerative changes in other parts of the spine, as well.

Disc degeneration is not technically a spinal disease, but rather a description of the condition of these shock-absorbing “pillows.” According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly everyone over the age of 60 has at least some disc degeneration (as shown by MRIs.) But not all will feel pain.

Should the discs collapse completely, the Arthritis Foundation continues, the facet joints at the back of the spine may begin to rub against each other, leading to symptoms of osteoarthritis, mainly pain, and stiffness.

Things that cause disc degeneration include the inevitable drying that comes with age. Drying decreases the disc’s ability to absorb shock. Discs have little to no blood supply, which means once they’ve been damaged, healing is difficult at best. This limited healing capacity of the discs is often what starts and/or perpetuates the deterioration process that leads to spinal degeneration.

Perhaps the most common cause of chronic low back pain, disc degeneration can take a number of forms. Most of the time, internal disc disruption (IDD) is at the root of the problem. Internal disc disruption is another name for annular tear injuries, the collapse of the disc and/or mechanical failure of the disc, with no accompanying changes to the shape of the disc (as viewed from the outside) and no changes to the vertebral endplate. IDD is a clinical entity all its own. In other words, it is not the same as degenerative disc disease or herniated disc.

Discogenic pain is the name given to the pain resulting from IDD.

Symptoms of Degenerating Discs

Symptoms of degenerating discs tend to occur where the damage is located. Symptoms can include pain (mild to severe) that worsens when you sit, lift, bend, or twist. The pain may come and go and may get better when you move your body. Numbness, tingling and/or leg weakness (in the case of lumbar disc degeneration) that accompany the pain can indicate damage to one or more spinal nerve roots.

Doctors divide up the types of pain related to spinal degeneration into 4 categories. Axial pain is pain that occurs in and around the spinal column. Radiculopathy is pain and other symptoms that arise from an irritated spinal nerve root. Myelopathy refers to pain and other symptoms related to damage to the spinal cord (examples of myelopathy symptoms include coordination or gait issues, and possible bowel or bladder problems). Myelopathy symptoms tend to be more serious in nature than symptoms that are related to radiculopathy or those that are limited to the axial spine.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is pain related strictly to the disc and nothing else. It is diagnosed when your doctor cannot find any reason, other than the disc itself, to explain the presence of your pain. To arrive at the DDD diagnosis (as well as the diagnosis for many other types of spinal problems) your doctor will likely use medical history, a physical exam and possibly MRI. Other tests that help confirm your doctor’s suspicions may include X-ray and/or provocation discography.

Treatment for Degenerating Discs

As far as treatment goes, generally conservative care is enough to abate the symptoms. Conservative care usually consists of physical therapy, at-home exercise program, staying active within tolerable limits, pain medication and possibly spinal injections. If the pain persists, it’s too severe, or if myelopathy symptoms (mentioned above) are interfering with your bowel and/or bladder functioning, your doctor may suggest surgery.

Along with pain reduction, the success of treatment for degenerating discs is measured by your ability to function in your daily life—things like being able to walk, stand, sit and lift objects without pain, being able to engage in social life with minimal restriction, traveling comfortably and more speak volumes as to how well you are managing and/or healing from degenerative changes in your discs.

Spinal Arthritis and Spinal Stenosis

Disc degeneration often leads to osteoarthritis in the joints that are located at the back of the spine (facet joints.) Along with hypertrophy and the formation of spurs, the bone-on-bone contact that results from changes in spinal alignment due to disc collapse can cause pain and inflammation in the facets. The abnormal bone growth (facet joint hypertrophy) changes the shape of your vertebrae and can encroach on the spaces and holes that are in and around the spinal column. When this happens, the spinal cord and/or the spinal nerve roots may become irritated as they come into contact with the spurs.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease, but you can help slow it down by working earnestly with your doctor and physical therapist. The exercises they give you to do at home are particularly important for managing the rate of progression. Most likely, they’ll recommend flexibility development, muscle strengthening and no- or low-load exercise such as aquatics.

But when the disease worsens it may lead to spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces through which nerves and the cord travel, namely the spinal canal and the intervertebral foramen. Two types of stenosis in the spine are the central canal and foraminal stenosis.

The classic symptom of spinal stenosis is neurogenic claudication which is a pain on walking and standing, which tends to be relieved when you sit or lie down. Other symptoms include radiculopathy or pain and nerve symptoms that affect one arm or leg and thickened ligaments. Thickened spinal ligaments, especial the ligament flavum, may add to the encroachment factor, thereby adding to the irritation to your spinal nerve root and/or spinal cord.

As with many other types of degenerative spine conditions, pain relief and increased functioning can generally be achieved with conservative care. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. Should symptoms persist, she may refer you to a surgeon for a decompression. The purpose of a decompression back surgery is to enlarge the encroached spaces. It is said that this back procedure helps people walk farther and stand for longer periods of time with minimal discomfort. If your spine is unstable, your surgeon may also fuse the area. This may involve either taking bone from your hip and putting it in your spine or implantation of metal pieces such as screws and rods.

5 Tips for Spinal Fracture Recovery

A spinal fracture is a painful and potentially serious injury. Both trauma, such as from an accident or fall, and diseases that weaken bones, such as osteoporosis, can fracture the spine.1 Some of the symptoms associated with a spinal fracture may include:

• Sudden back pain
• Increased pain with standing or walking
• Limited mobility in the spine
• Becoming shorter
• Stiffness and steadily worsening back pain 
• A physical deformity such as a hunch in the back2

In many cases, treatment for a spinal fracture does not require surgery, as the bones may heal on their own. Instead, a person may need to use an immobilization corset or brace for many weeks. A cautious approach and a few proactive strategies may help the recovery process and reduce pain.3

Spinal Fracture Recovery Tips

After you’re diagnosed with a spinal fracture, it’s time to start the recovery process. Try these tips during your recovery.

1. Medication Should Be Used Only as Needed

Spinal fractures can be painful, and many people find they need something to relieve the discomfort, especially during the period immediately after the fracture has occurred. Work with your doctor to determine the appropriate type of pain relief for you. This depends on the level of pain you are experiencing and any other types of medication you are currently taking. As the pain subsides, you may be able to decrease the dosage, switch to an over-the-counter pain reliever, or eliminate medication altogether.4

If your spinal fracture is related to a medical condition such as osteoporosis, your doctor might also prescribe medication to help improve bone density.

2. Rest is Important During the Recovery Process

The body needs plenty of energy to heal itself, so getting ample rest is critical. Limiting activity is especially important immediately after the injury because this is when the body’s inflammatory response initiates the most pain and swelling. Limiting movement allows your body to heal itself while also lowering the risk of another injury. For several weeks, you should also avoid bending, twisting, and lifting.5

While you rest, it is also important to maintain a healthy diet that provides your body with the nutrients it needs for the healing process. Make sure to stay hydrated and eat balanced meals that include fruits and vegetables. Foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as milk, fortified cereals, and some lean proteins, may help your body heal and prevent the loss of bone density.6

3. Physical Therapy Builds Strength

As you continue to recover, physical therapy can help you build strength and regain range of motion in your back. Muscles in the hips, back, and abdominals weaken during the rest phase, when mobility is limited. Safely rebuilding these muscles is necessary to return to regular activity and prevent reinjury. Your physical therapy treatment plan might include:

• Flexibility exercises to improve range of motion
• Weight-bearing exercises to improve muscle and bone strength
• Techniques for maintaining proper posture
• Exercises to help you avoid falls
• Nutrition consultation to improve bone strength7

4. Bracing Provides Support

Your doctor or physical therapist might also recommend using a back brace to provide support during the recovery process. The brace temporarily immobilizes the back, helping to reduce the risk of reinjury and providing additional support to the bones and muscles. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the use of this brace. Recovery eventually requires engaging the back muscles, so prolonged use of the brace might actually undermine recovery.3

5. Cold Therapy Can Help

Using a cold therapy system during spinal fracture recovery may help relieve pain and swelling in the area surrounding the injury. Ice reduces inflammation, making it an especially useful tool immediately following an injury.8

Traditional ice packs may deliver inconsistent cold and warm up quickly. Some cold therapy systems offer therapeutic cold in combination with wrap-conforming compression. This compression helps the wrap to conform to the body, and allows cold to penetrate deeper into the damaged tissues.  Cold therapy systems are also easy to use and do not require you to hold an ice pack in the same position throughout the treatment process. You can rent a device for home use during recovery or use a system at your physical therapy appointment.

Selecting a physical therapist is an important step in the spinal fracture recovery process. Ask your doctor for recommendations.

Endnotes

1. Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine. OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/fractures-of-the-thoracic-and-lumbar-spine/. Published September 2015.
2. Compression fracture. Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/c/compression-fracture.html. Accessed July 11, 2019.
3. Spinal fractures. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17498-spinal-fractures.
4. Vertebral compression fractures. AANS. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Vertebral-Compression-Fractures. Accessed July 11, 2019.
5. Recovering from falls. National Osteoporosis Foundation. https://www.nof.org/patients/fracturesfall-prevention/exercisesafe-movement/recovering-from-falls/. Accessed July 11, 2019.
6. Osteoporosis diet and nutrition: foods for bone health. National Osteoporosis Foundation. https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/nutrition/.
7. Wong CC, McGirt MJ. Vertebral compression fractures: a review of current management and multimodal therapy. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2013:205-214. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693826/.
8.   Ice therapy. UCLA Spine Center. https://www.uclahealth.org/spinecenter/ice-therapy.  Accessed July 11, 2019.

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90,000 Compression fracture of the spine, vertebroplasty – the cost of the operation in Moscow

Treatment of injuries and fractures of the spine in MedicaMenta

Spinal injuries can be of different types: bruises, dislocations, sprains, fractures. At the same time, a spinal fracture is not always the result of an injury in an accident or a fall from a height. For example, people with diseases such as osteoporosis, tumors, spinal hemangioma, and others that reduce the strength of the bone tissue may suffer a vertebral fracture during their usual daily activities.

MedicaMente neurosurgeons successfully treat spinal fractures (including compression fractures in osteoporosis, hemangiomas, etc.). The choice of method depends on the type of vertebra fracture, the presence or absence of damage to the spinal cord or surrounding tissues, and neurological manifestations of the disease. The operation is used in cases of spinal cord injury or its high risk due to spinal instability. Also, an operation for a compression fracture of the spine can be prescribed if conservative therapy is ineffective.

Puncture vertebroplasty (“cementing” of the spine)

Puncture vertebroplasty has fully proved its high efficiency and low trauma in compression fractures of the vertebrae of a traumatic nature, osteoporosis, tumor process, spinal hemangiomas. The procedure allows you to restore the integrity of the vertebra and return the patient to physical activity immediately after the operation.

The essence of the operation vertebroplasty – “cementing” of the spine

During the operation, a special cementing substance is introduced into the damaged vertebra in order to strengthen it – a kind of bone substitute.Within a few minutes after the injection, the “bone cement” hardens, fixing the stable position of the vertebra. Vertebroplasty is performed under X-ray control and is considered minimally invasive, since the work is performed through a small puncture in the skin. There is no open incision.

Advantages of vertebroplasty – low invasiveness and efficiency

Minimally invasive approach

The manipulation is carried out without an incision, through a puncture.

Local anesthesia

The procedure is available, among other things, to elderly and senile patients with severe osteoporosis and people with contraindications to anesthesia.

Without hospitalization

In most cases, discharge from the hospital is possible 4-6 hours after the operation.

High efficiency

Vertebroplasty allows you to eliminate pain caused by a vertebral fracture, to restore range of motion.

Do you want an opinion on your case?

_{A neurosurgeon will answer you within 48 hours}

Stabilization of a spinal fracture with metal structures

In case of a complicated and unstable fracture, MedicaMente neurosurgeons perform decompression and stabilization of the vertebrae using titanium plates, special screws, rods, braces and other metal structures. Previously, such an operation was very difficult and required serious rehabilitation.Modern percutaneous vertebral connective systems allow stabilizing surgery for spinal fractures through small incisions – minimally invasive and safe for the patient! The duration of the procedure depends on the amount of work and the complexity of the actions performed. On average, the operation lasts from two hours. The technique of vertebral stabilization is selected by the neurosurgeon on an individual basis, taking into account many factors … more details here

Surgery to replace a vertebra with an implant.Installation of cage

In case of a spinal fracture, in some cases it may be necessary to replace the vertebra and intervertebral disc with an implant. MedicaMente neurosurgeons in their practice widely use various implants for surgical stabilization of the spine. Fixation of the vertebrae using a cage and transpedicular screws is currently one of the most reliable methods.

Cage is a disc replacement (implant) that is as close as possible to a bone property.During the operation, it is firmly fixed, holding the vertebrae and preventing them from moving. After the installation of the cage, the vertebrae fusion occurs within several months, but the patient can begin to restore motor activity from the first day after the operation (sitting, walking, etc.)

Send us your MRI scans today!

_{The neurosurgeon will determine what kind of operation is needed in your case.}

90,000 Vertebral fracture – Avicenna Klinik

What is a vertebral fracture?

The axis of the human body is the spine.It performs important static tasks and serves to protect the internal organs and spinal cord, and also allows movement. In healthy people, the spine is highly stable, and it takes a lot of force to cause a vertebral fracture. The spine consists of a total of seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, five fused sacral and four to five coccygeal vertebrae. Thus, together with a complex ligamentous and muscular apparatus, the spine is a functional, elastic system capable of absorbing loads.

Fracture of actually very stable vertebral bodies can occur if they are severely injured from the outside (car, bicycle and motorcycle accidents, head-jumping into a shallow body of water, falls, sports injuries, violent actions). This happens only when there is a large impact of an external force, from a blow that the muscles cannot intercept. In addition, the spine is inhibited unilaterally during a fall. The vertebral body breaks and breaks. There is a fracture of the vertebrae (fractura vertebrae).A vertebral fracture can affect the spinous process, vertebral body, or vertebral arch.

These synonyms exist for a vertebral fracture: vertebral body fracture, compression fracture, sprain fracture, flexion fracture, explosive fracture.

In 1994, Friedrich Paul Magerl (born May 21, 1931 in Styria), an Austrian surgeon and pioneer of spinal surgery, introduced the classification for assessing thoracic and lumbar trauma, which is now commonly used for assessment.

Type A: Compression injuries: compression occurs. It occurs primarily in the front of the vertebrae.

Type B: Distraction Injuries: Torque tears the vertebrae laterally. Such injuries occur mainly in the region of the posterior vertebra.

Type C: Rotational damage: This occurs during rotation. Longitudinal ligaments and often intervertebral discs are also damaged.

Introduction to different types of compression fractures, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Compression fracture is the most common fracture problem in spinal injury.In this article, you will learn about spinal compression fractures.

When a vertebra is injured, the most common problem is a fracture. The most common type of vertebral fracture is also called compression fracture. Compression fractures occur when natural vertebrae are crushed or forced out of the spine .

What is a Compression Fracture?

Compression fracture is a type of pressure-induced fracture in the bone of the spine that causes a portion of the vertebra to be crushed and reduced in height by at least 15 to 20 percent.This fracture is classified into three different types: Wedge fracture, Crushed fracture, and Rupture fracture.

Although this type of fracture is very common, it is not diagnosed because its symptoms are very similar to straining the lumbar muscles or damage to other tissues of the back. As a result, approximately two-thirds of the compression fractures that occur each year go undiagnosed and untreated. Therefore, familiarity with this type of fracture and its symptoms can be of great help for its early treatment .

Introduction to the different types of compression fractures

Compression fractures most commonly occur in the middle and lower spine and are divided into three different types.

Wedge fracture

A wedge-shaped compression fracture usually occurs in the anterior portion of the vertebra and causes the anterior portion of the vertebral bone to fall off. In this case, the rear of the nut remains unchanged, resulting in a wedge nut.A wedge fracture is usually a permanent mechanical fracture, but can deform the spine, causing limb defects such as a hump.

Crushing Fracture

In this type of spinal fracture, the entire vertebral bone disintegrates on its own and the vertebrae are crushed. These fractures are usually mechanically stable.

Fracture fracture

Rupture fracture is one of the most important types of compression fractures because it leads to instability of the spine and, over time, can damage its nervous system.

In this type of compression fracture, the vertebra breaks and collapses in several ways. When the spine collapses, most of the broken bone parts damage the tissue around the spine or spinal cord. Therefore, he needs immediate treatment.

Symptoms of compression fracture

About two thirds of people with osteoporotic fractures under pressure have no symptoms. They don’t feel pain when a fracture occurs. Sometimes vertebral fractures begin with acute pain and then develop into chronic pain.The pain usually subsides in about four weeks and disappears after 12 weeks.

Other symptoms include thoracic kyphosis, short stature, and contraction of internal organs. In addition, muscle weakness weakens the body due to lack of physical activity, and the strength of aerobic activity decreases .

The main clinical signs of compression fractures are one or a combination of the following :

• Sudden onset of back pain
• Feeling of pain when bending or twisting the back
• Increased pain when standing or walking
• Reduce back pain while sleeping
• Limitation of movement of the spine
• Weight Loss
• Spinal deformity and disability
• Pelvic pain
• Breathing problems

Because most fractures damage the anterior vertebrae, the fracture is permanent and rarely damages the spinal cord and nerves and does not cause symptoms such as numbness or tingling .

Causes of compression fracture

Osteoporosis is one of the most common causes of compression fractures. This problem is especially common in women over 50. Osteoporosis causes thinning, brittleness, and weakening of the bones. Bones can break during normal activities when they become thin and brittle. For example, when a person picks up an object from the ground or falls from a short distance. In this case, compression fractures can cause severe pain and permanent deformity of the spine.

In cases of progressive osteoporosis, even sneezing, coughing, or rolling in bed can cause vertebral fractures.

Injury to the vertebrae of the spine is also the cause of partial or severe compression fractures. A shock can be caused by a fall, a sudden jump, a car accident, or any other event and can put pressure on the bones of the spine from the point of fracture.

Tumors can also cause compression fractures to some extent.Sometimes cancer starts in other parts of the body and spreads to the bones of the spine. As the tumor spreads, the bones of the spine are severely damaged.

How is a compression fracture diagnosed?

The diagnostic process begins with the examination of the patient’s medical history and continues with clinical examination, radiography, computed tomography, MRI and nuclear tomography to determine the type and degree of the fracture.

How is a compression fracture treated?

At first, careful methods are used to treat spinal fractures.AS:

• Absolute rest maximum three months
• Use braces to restrict movement of the spine
• Physiotherapy and training exercises to strengthen the muscles around the spine
• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen for pain relief
• Use of bisphosphonates and sometimes calcitonin for people with osteoporosis. To prevent bone breakdown and increase bone density

Surgical treatment is recommended if deemed necessary by the physician. Compression fracture surgery is performed in two ways: kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. If the spine is unstable and there is a possibility of damage to the spinal cord, it is necessary to perform a fusion of the bones of the vertebrae.

Who is at risk for compression fractures?

The following people are more at risk of fractures under pressure:

• Women, especially those who have gone through menopause

90 160 Older men, especially those over 60 90 161

• People with calcium deficiency

Compression fractures problematic but treatable

The spine is the main support for the trunk, neck, head and spinal cord, therefore it plays an important role in the structure of the body and the nervous system.Therefore, identifying and resolving any spinal cord problems can be challenging.

Compression fractures of the spine are one of the most painful and problematic diseases of the spine. These fractures are often caused by osteoporosis.

Although most compression fractures of the spine will eventually heal on their own, they can lead to decreased growth and hump. If the main symptom of a compression fracture is severe or prolonged pain, there are several methods of pain control.Several spine stabilization options are also available.

90,000 Treatment of compression fractures of the spine – (Di Center clinics)

Kyphoplasty is a modern minimally invasive surgical technique developed for the treatment of patients suffering from compression fractures of the spine with concomitant pain in osteoporosis, metastases, etc.
This operation is performed through a small puncture in the skin, and local anesthesia is sufficient for pain relief.In the absence of complications, the patient can be discharged on the day of the operation.

Kyphoplasty enables:
• Significantly reduce the intensity of pain localized in the back, or completely stop them
• Restore the patient’s normal posture and physiological curves of his spine
• To prevent further development of the “subsidence” of the broken vertebra and, as a result, to stop the progression of the deformity of the spinal column and to prevent the emergence of problems associated with this violation in the long-term period

In most cases, kyphoplasty is performed with a compression fracture of the lumbar spine or a compression fracture of the thoracic spine.It is important to note that for young and healthy people, whose bone tissue is of normal density, kyphoplasty can significantly reduce bed rest in case of fractures.

Efficiency
The results of clinical studies show that in 90% of patients suffering from a compression fracture of the spine, which occurs against the background of osteoporosis, pain in the back region disappears immediately after the operation or gradually disappears within two weeks from the date of the operation.
In 70-90% of patients, almost complete restoration of the normal body height of the damaged vertebra occurs.
Unfortunately, if a compression fracture of the spine occurs against the background of myeloma or metastases of the malignant area, such impressive results cannot be achieved. Nevertheless, in most cases, after surgery, the patient becomes more active and the pain syndrome is significantly reduced.

You can make an appointment with the neurosurgeon of the Medical Di Center by calling 51-22-51.

Fracture of the vertebral body – MVZ Praxisklinik Dr. Schneiderhan & Kollegen

A fracture (violation of the integrity) of the vertebral body occurs either as a result of mechanical impact, or because the patient’s bone structure is already damaged, – for example, in the case of osteoporosis. The fracture can affect any part or part of the vertebra, but usually the lumbar or thoracic spine is affected. Patients sometimes live for months or even years with chronic back pain resulting from a fracture – even though it is perfectly treatable!

What causes a vertebral body fracture?

A fracture of the vertebral body can occur both as a result of an accident and as a result of the destruction of bone substance in the patient’s spine (for example, during osteoporosis), which increases the susceptibility to fractures.

• Due to injury: The cause of the fracture is an accident (fall from a ladder, sports injury or car accident with a shock and compression of the spine).
• Due to disease: in most cases, the fracture is a consequence of osteoporosis, against which the affected bone tissue becomes porous. In addition to this so-called osteoporotic fracture of the vertebral body, rheumatic diseases or bone metastases in oncological (cancer) disease can lead to a weakening of the structure of bone tissue.

Older people with osteoporosis are most susceptible to vertebral fractures. As we age, bones become more porous and therefore more unstable due to progressive degradation. In this case, a vertebral fracture can occur even without any impact – just under conditions of normal daily stress. This fracture is called a compression fracture and usually affects the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. If the fracture occurs in the cervical spine, it usually affects the lower cervical vertebrae.If several such fractures occur at the same time, the trunk of the spine is shortened and a hump (the so-called “widow’s hump”) is formed.

What are the symptoms of a vertebral body fracture?

A vertebral fracture in most cases causes severe pain in the patient. If left untreated, it can lead to chronic back pain. Pains often radiate to other parts of the body and are difficult to localize. Another symptom of a fracture is limitation of the mobility of the spine, which significantly impairs the quality of life.In this case, a fracture of the vertebra may indicate such signs of damage to the spinal cord as paralysis, numbness of the arms and legs, or functional disorders during emptying of the bladder and intestines.

How is vertebral body fracture treated?

Treatment of a vertebral body fracture

Stable fracture

Conservative treatment until the bone is healed

• Bed rest
• Taking pain reliever after bone healing
  • Physiotherapy
  • Special gymnastics for the back

  Unstable fracture

  Minimally invasive intervention

  • • 9002 Vertebroplasty 9902 992 992 90601 and expediency, we rely on conservative therapy to, on the one hand, relieve you as a patient of pain, and on the other, to avoid surgery.Based on the results of a thorough clinical examination, analyzes and diagnostics, including imaging procedures (all these procedures are performed in one day in our centers), we will draw up a treatment concept adapted to your needs. Treatment options depend on whether the fracture is stable or unstable.

      Unstable vertebral body fracture

      Minimally invasive therapy is used in cases where an unstable vertebral body fracture entails a risk of spinal cord injury.An unstable fracture is spoken of when the middle or dorsal elements of the spinal column are affected. The central column includes the so-called posterior edge of the vertebral body, that is, the posterior surface of the vertebral body; the dorsal column includes, in particular, the intervertebral joints. Even in the case of very severe pain or significant loss of height of the affected vertebrae, it is possible to resort to minimally invasive procedures on the spine.

      Minimally invasive spine surgery

      Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty is often performed in our four specialist medical centers for the treatment of unstable vertebral fractures – depending on the results of the examinations performed: these new, minimally invasive procedures avoid open surgery and painful scars …Percutaneous access is carried out using a thin needle – this protects the muscles and supporting tissue in the spine:

      during vertebroplasty, we pierce the vertebral body with a needle under X-ray control and inject liquid bone cement into the bone; this procedure is completely safe. Once the cement has hardened, stabilization returns to the vertebral body forever. If the vertebral body is severely deformed, we perform balloon kyphoplasty. This procedure is similar to vertebroplasty, with the difference that first the shape of the vertebral body is restored with the help of a balloon, and then cement is injected.

      If nothing else helps: operation

      If a fracture of the vertebral body is due to trauma and there is a pronounced deformation of the vertebral body with additional involvement of the posterior edge of the vertebral body, in this case fusion can help. The affected vertebra is fused with adjacent vertebrae using a system of screws and rods.

      Prevention of vertebral body fracture

      The risk of fracture can be reduced.In the presence of an underlying disease such as osteoporosis, appropriate and timely treatment can be carried out, which can prevent further fracture of the vertebral body. If you already play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, you have already done a lot to prevent it.

      Compression fracture of the lumbar spine

      Compression fracture of the lumbar spine is a pathological condition that is observed quite often, since it is this section that is transitional from physiological kyphosis to physiological lordosis and is most susceptible to high loads, and also suffers as a result of other diseases of the spine.Its main danger lies in the high risk of damage to the spinal cord and spinal nerves with all the ensuing consequences.

      A course of treatment for a compression fracture of the lumbar spine can be taken at the multidisciplinary clinic CELT. Our specialists have everything necessary to create all the conditions for quick healing of the fracture without complications.

      Reasons for the appearance of

      An open or closed compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra occurs as a result of a strong mechanical effect on the vertebral body due to intense axial loads.More often, with an injury, a fracture of the 1st and 2nd lumbar vertebrae occurs. In addition to the direct effect, other reasons are possible that can lead to a compression fracture of the 1st or 2nd lumbar vertebra:

      • Loss of shock-absorbing properties by the cartilage of the intervertebral disc, characteristic of a number of diseases;
      • destructive changes in the structure of bone tissue during the development of osteoporosis;
      • the appearance of physiological problems in the intervertebral discs;
      • growth of neoplasms in contact with the vertebrae.

      Clinical manifestations

      Compression fracture of the 1st or 2nd lumbar vertebra is characterized by the following clinical manifestations:

      • pronounced pain symptoms in the lumbar spine, radiating to the buttocks, thighs, lower legs – appears with a fracture as a result of injury;
      • weakness in the upper and lower extremities, decreased sensitivity, numbness – appear when the spinal cord and nerve roots that are inside the spinal canal are damaged;

      90 160 pain of a moderate nature, which becomes more severe over time, appears with the development of a pathology such as osteoporosis.

      The most severe manifestations of this pathology include spinal cord compression, which is accompanied not only by severe pain, but also by dysfunction of the pelvic organs (urination, defecation, etc.).

      Diagnostics

      All of the above symptoms require immediate medical attention. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, since it can lead to the most sad consequences – up to and including death.

      The specialists of our clinic carry out complex diagnostics, which allows to make a correct diagnosis. It includes the following:

      Treatment

      Treatment of a compression fracture of the lumbar spine in the CELT clinic is carried out using modern conservative and surgical methods. The first ones are aimed at eliminating pain syndrome by blockades, reducing the axial load on the spine and providing conditions for quick fusion, consolidation without complications.For this, medication and corsetting are used.

      Good results can be obtained by minimally invasive methods of treatment: kyphoplasty and verteboplasty. As for the surgical intervention in the form of decompression and internal fixation with implants, it is practiced for unstable fractures with a high probability of neurological complications.

      Turning to CELT, you can count on the professionalism and experience of doctors and high-quality treatment with positive results!

      90,000 What makes your back hurt | Articles of the clinic Medservice

      Back pain is a very common problem, especially among the working and student population.

      Those who spend a lot of time sitting – behind the wheel, at the desk, at the computer – often suffer from lower back pain, but rarely pay attention to them. It is believed that this ailment is not amenable to treatment and goes away on its own. But in reality, things can be much more complicated.

      What are the causes of back pain and which ones require medical attention?

      Back pain can be divided into more or less frequent. The most common is deformation (change in shape and premature wear) of the intervertebral disc.These discs are subjected to countless repetitive stresses throughout their life. At rest, in a prone position, this load is about 25 kg, when lifting weights – up to 200 kg.

      The general situation is aggravated by overweight. Over time, the disc disappears. After 30 years, the mass of the nucleus decreases. It loses water, disintegrates and disappears over time. Thus, the height of the disc is reduced and, to a greater extent, the performance of its cushioning function is reduced.

      During this period, the appearance of small cracks in the fibrosis ring around the nucleus and the disc can also occur, and the core material will begin to press into these cracks. Gradually, there are loads on the nerve endings in the outer layers of the annulus fibrosus around the longitudinal ligaments. This is how back pain begins, which most often appears in the lumbar region most exposed to stress, and sometimes extends to the lower extremities.

      The deformed vertebral disc does not provide a complete connection of the vertebral bodies and, thus, there are small displacements of them relative to each other, which in turn causes a reaction of the surrounding muscles, which are painfully contracted.

      If this whole process continues, which is inevitable with the continued load on the spine, then the vertebrae react with the formation of reactive processes (osteophytes). The final stage of this process is a complete rupture of the annulus surrounding the disc and prolapse of the nucleus outside the disc. When prolapsed, the nerve roots are compressed, which causes a number of, as a rule, sharply emerging symptoms due to dysfunction of the affected nerves.

      Causes of back pain

      Muscle load

      Approximately 85% of cases of chronic or episodic back pain are associated with excessive stress on the lower back.Do not be surprised: even if you do not play sports, do not carry weights and do not dig in the beds day and night, the muscles of your back still experience daily overexertion. When you sit, for example, in front of a monitor, it is they who have to support the bulk of your body. Therefore, the doctor recommends that those who work at the table sit as deeply as possible in the chair, leaning on its back.

      Compression Fracture

      According to the American Medical Association, approximately 4% of patients with back pain make this diagnosis.A compression fracture is a fracture of the spine, most commonly seen in older people and people with osteoporosis, in which bones become less dense and can break simply under the pressure of body weight. Therefore, fractures resulting from trauma are not included in this category. This means that the patient himself may not notice how he will break his vertebra – only acute persistent pains will talk about this.

      Spondylolisthesis

      This condition occurs in 5-7% of the population, although it is diagnosed much less often (most often people simply do not pay attention to chronic lumbar pain). to the bottom, bulging forward or backward.The corresponding part of the spine becomes like a ladder and not like a post. The symptoms are the same – pain in the lower back, sometimes in the buttocks, can rarely radiate to the lower extremities. The displaced vertebra can compress the roots of the nerves extending from the spinal cord, which leads to painful sensations.

      Ankylosing spondylitis

      Another name for this disease is ankylosing spondylitis. It is mainly found in men, both in the elderly and in the young.Women account for less than a sixth of all patients.

      It is mainly manifested by pain and stiffness in the lower back, aching pain in the hips, constant tension of the back muscles. The cause is inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine. This is a chronic progressive disease, that is, by grasping the lumbar spine, the inflammation spreads to the cervical and thoracic. Moreover, over time, connective tissues of internal organs, cardiovascular system, kidneys, lungs and even eyes can be affected.However, this disease is quite rare – it is “put” by about 0.35% of patients.

      Cancer

      In about 0.7% of patients with complaints of back pain, cancerous tumors are subsequently found. It can be cancer, initially localized in the spine, or tumors that metastasize from other organs. As you can see from the statistics, such cases are extremely rare: usually cancer is “caught” for other symptoms, and if you have not had cancer before, back pain hardly portends this terrible diagnosis.

      Spinal infection

      One of the rarest causes of back pain (0.01%). Typically, the infection does not start in the spine, but travels to the lower back through the bloodstream from other parts of the body – from the urinary tract, for example. Like other infectious lesions, it is usually accompanied by an increase in temperature. However, the combination of back pain + fever does not mean that your spine is infected. The common flu, for example, can cause the same symptoms.

      As mentioned above, back pain is an extremely common symptom, while it is natural that not every person with this problem and does not immediately go to the doctor for back pain. Indeed, in more than 70% of cases, back pain is of a temporary nature and does not require special treatment.

      In other cases, back pain may appear on the background of an infection, fracture, tumor, or vascular insufficiency and requires immediate medical attention.Below is a list of specific characteristics or conditions of back pain that should be consulted as soon as possible. So, see your doctor as soon as possible if:

      • If you have persistent back pain and are over 50 or under 20
      • Back pain appeared after a recent injury, fall, overexertion
      • Back pain accompanied by incontinence or urinary retention, constipation
      • Against the background of back pain, the sensitivity of the skin on the inner side decreased
        thighs and genitals
      • Back pain keeps getting worse during week
      • Back pain appeared against a background of fever and general malaise
      • Back pain accompanied by weakening of muscle strength in the legs or arms
      • Back pain worse when bending over or lying down, at night

      .