What Is A Vertebral Compression Fracture?

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Vertebral Compression Fracture

A vertebral compression fracture involves the bones of the spine.

Causes of vertebral compression fracture

Osteoporosis is the most common cause of this type of fracture. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become fragile. In most cases, the bone loses calcium and other minerals with age. Other causes of vertebral compression fracture may include:
-Back trauma.
-Tumours that started in the bone or spread to the bone from somewhere else.
-Tumours that begin in the spine, such as multiple myeloma.
-Having multiple fractures of the vertebrae can lead to kyphosis. This is a curvature of the hump-shaped spine.

Symptoms of vertebral compression fracture

Vertebral compression fractures may occur suddenly. This can cause severe back pain. The pain is felt mostly in the middle or lower part of the spine. You can also feel pain on your sides or in front. The pain is acute and feels like “a stab.” It can be disabling and it takes weeks to months to disappear.
Compression fractures due to osteoporosis may not cause any symptoms at first. They are often discovered when x-rays of the spine are taken for other reasons. Over time, the following symptoms may occur:

-Back pain that begins slowly, and worsens when walking, but can also occur when resting.
-Loss of height, up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) over time.
-Hunched posture or kyphosis.
-Pressure on the spinal cord due to the hunched posture can rarely produce: Numbness,
tingling, weakness, difficulty to walk and loss of sphincter control.

$A vertebral compression fracture in the spine$

Tests and exams

Your doctor will perform a physical exam. The exam may reveal:

-A hump or kyphosis.
-Sensitivity to the affected vertebrae or bones.
-An x-ray of the spine may show at least 1 compressed vertebra which becomes shorter than the others.

Other tests that can be done:

-Bone density test to detect osteoporosis.
-A computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if there is concern that the fracture was caused by a serious tumour or trauma (such as a fall or a car accident).

Treatment

Most vertebral crushing is seen in the elderly with osteoporosis. These fractures often do not cause spinal cord injury. The condition is usually treated with medications and calcium supplements to prevent further fractures.

Pain can be treated with analgesics, bed rest. Other treatments may include:

-Corsets for the back, but they can weaken the bones more and increase the risk of more fractures.
-Physiotherapy to improve movement and strength around the spine.
-A medicine called calcitonin to help relieve bone pain.
-Surgery may be done if you have severe and disabling pain for more than 2 months that does not improve with other treatments. Surgery may include balloon kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty or vertebral arthrodesis.

At the London Spine Unit, we have some of the best specialists to diagnose and treat vertebral compression fractures. Book an appointment to get a checkup.

Read more about the surgical procedures:

What is Vertebroplasty?

What is Balloon Kyphoplasty?

What is the best treatment for back pain?

What are the causes of vertebral compression fractures?

What is the treatment for vertebral compression fractures?

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2022-06-10

Fabulous service Fabulous service. Mr Akmal truly cares about his patients and how he can improve their quality of life. I would recommend him to anyone with any kind of spinal issue.

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2022-06-08

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2022-06-06

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2022-05-18

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2022-05-18

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2022-05-09

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2022-04-22

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2022-04-02

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2022-03-22

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2022-03-17

Great service and painless procedure Great service and painless procedure. Definitely alleviated the pain

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