How do you treat a wedge compression fracture?
The majority of mild to moderate compression fractures are treated with immobilization in a brace or corset for a period of six to twelve weeks. The duration of treatment is based on symptoms and x-rays.
How serious is a wedge compression fracture?
This may cause the front part of the vertebral body to crush forming a wedge shape. This is known as a compression fracture. If the entire vertebral body breaks, this is considered a burst fracture and is discussed elsewhere. The compression fracture may range from mild to severe in terms of severity.
What causes wedge compression fracture?
What causes a compression fracture? Osteoporosis is the most common cause of compression fractures. Osteoporosis is a type of bone loss that causes bones to break easily. Other causes include injuries to the spine (such as from car accidents and sports injuries) and tumors in the spine.
What are the 3 types of compression fractures?
Over time, weakening of the spine or trauma can cause fractures in the spinal vertebrae, called compression fractures....There are three distinct types of spinal compression fractures:Wedge fracture;Crush fracture;Burst fracture.
Can a wedge fracture get worse?
In most patients with osteoporotic compression fractures, there is no neurologic injury but only pain from the fracture. However, if left untreated the fracture angulation may worsen and lead to late paralogic injury.
Is there a difference between a compression fracture and a wedge compression fracture?
In a compression fracture, the vertebral body collapses. The most common type of compression fracture is a wedge fracture, in which the front of the vertebral body collapses but the back does not, meaning that the bone assumes a wedge shape.
Is a compression fracture considered a broken back?
A compression fracture occurs when the front of a vertebra breaks and loses a little of its height, but the back of that vertebra remains intact. Symptoms include pain in the back and sometimes in the arms or legs.
What does a wedge fracture feel like?
Pain that gets worse when you stand or walk but with some relief when you lie down. Trouble bending or twisting your body. Loss of height. A curved, stooped shape to your spine.
Can you fully recover from a compression fracture?
Many spine compression fractures heal in two or three months. If you have osteoporosis, a full recovery may take as long as a year. Regular follow-up visits during this time allow your doctor to evaluate the fractured vertebra and the way your spine is responding to the injury.
When do compression fractures require surgery?
If a spine compression fracture causes significant back pain that persists for more than two months despite nonsurgical treatment such as pain medication, activity modification, and bracing, doctors may recommend surgery to relieve pain and stabilize the spine.
How long can you live with a compression fracture?
The survival rates following a fracture diagnosis, as estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, were 53.9%, 30.9%, and 10.5% at three, five, and seven years, respectively, which were consistently and significantly lower than the rates for the controls.
What happens if a compression fracture goes untreated?
If left untreated, the fractured vertebra can eventually collapse causing pain, limited mobility, and deformity. These fractures are most common in the thoracic spine, which is below the upper body and centered in the middle of the back.
How long can you live with a compression fracture?
The survival rates following a fracture diagnosis, as estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, were 53.9%, 30.9%, and 10.5% at three, five, and seven years, respectively, which were consistently and significantly lower than the rates for the controls.
Can you fully recover from a compression fracture?
Many spine compression fractures heal in two or three months. If you have osteoporosis, a full recovery may take as long as a year. Regular follow-up visits during this time allow your doctor to evaluate the fractured vertebra and the way your spine is responding to the injury.
How do you fix a wedged vertebrae?
An osteoporotic compression fracture causes the front of the vertebral body to collapse in a wedge-shape (red lines). Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are similar procedures. Both are performed through a hollow needle that is passed through the skin of your back into the fractured vertebra.
What are the long term effects of a compression fracture?
Vertebral compression fractures can have devastating long-term effects in terms of diminished quality of life, decreased independence, and increased morbidity and mortality.
What causes vertebral compression fractures?
The most frequent cause of vertebral compression fractures is osteoporosis , especially in women over the age of 50 and is fairly common in men over age 50. The bones become thin and become more thin and weak and are more likely to fracture which will cause increased amounts of pain and the contour of the spine will be changed. Causes of osteoporosis especially with complex cases include everyday events such as sneezing, turning over in bed or coughing or activities such as opening of a window. Trauma which includes any event that causes stress upon bones such as a car accident, fall, a forceful jump can cause extra stress onto the vertebra. Cancers can cause diminishing strength of vertebra causing fracture and metastatic cancer that begins in another part of the body can eventually proliferate into the spine. Patients who have hypercalcemia, unexplained weight loss, proteinuria or hypercalcemia it is important to regard this being related to cancer or multiple myeloma.
What is the procedure to stabilize a spinal fracture?
Kyphoplasty. Similar to vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is also another type of minimally invasive procedure which helps to stabilize the bone and also to reduce or stop the pain caused by a spinal fracture.
How long does it take to recover from a compression fracture?
Most patients can expect to make a full recovery from their compression fracture. Typically, braces are worn for six to twelve weeks followed by three to six weeks of physical therapy (PT) and exercise. Some patients may benefit by use of a bone growth stimulator. PT and regular exercise can help a patient to regain core body strength and build endurance of the trunk musculature. Overall strength, aerobic capacity and flexibility are also helped by physical therapy.
What is the most common cause of spinal compression fractures?
Osteoporosis is the most common risk factor for compression fractures. Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is thinning of the bones, weakening them. This may be due to certain medications, old age, inactivity, genetic factors, or a lack of calcium in the diet.
Is neurologic injury rare with compression fractures?
Neurologic injury is rare with compression fractures. The degree of neurologic injury is usually due to the amount of force present at the time of injury. If there is severe angulation of the spine secondary to a wedge fracture, this may stretch the spinal cord and create injury. This would then lead to loss of strength and sensation, as well as reflexes. In most patients with osteoporotic compression fractures, there is no neurologic injury but only pain from the fracture. However, if left untreated the fracture angulation may worsen and lead to late paralogical injury.
How long does it take to recover from a compression fracture?
Most patients can expect to make a full recovery from their compression fracture. Typically, braces are worn for six to twelve weeks followed by three to six weeks of physical therapy (PT) and exercise. Some patients may benefit by use of a bone growth stimulator.
How long does it take for a compression fracture to heal?
The majority of mild to moderate compression fractures are treated with immobilization in a brace or corset for a period of six to twelve weeks. The duration of treatment is based on symptoms and x-rays. As pain subsides and x-rays show no change in the position of the spine and healing of the fracture, the brace may be discontinued.
Why do you need a brace for a fracture?
Bracing helps to reduce acute pain by immobilizing the fracture. It also helps to reduce the eventual loss in height and in angulation from the fracture.
What is bone cement injection?
Through the catheter, bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebra. The bone cement hardens to stabilize the vertebral body. This procedure may be indicated in cases of severe osteoporosis, severe pain, or when a vertebral fracture fails to heal following bracing treatment.
What is a percutaneous vertebroplasty?
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia that may be used to treat compression fractures. During this procedure, a catheter is advanced into the compressed vertebra. Through the catheter, bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebra. The bone cement hardens to stabilize the vertebral body.
Overview
Compression fractures are small breaks or cracks in the vertebrae (the bones that make up your spinal column). The breaks happen in the vertebral body, which is the thick, rounded part on the front of each vertebra. Fractures in the bone cause the spine to weaken and collapse. Over time, these fractures affect posture.
Symptoms and Causes
Compression fracture symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people may not have symptoms. Their provider may discover the fracture when they do an X-ray for another condition. But many people are unable to stand or walk without pain. Symptoms of a fractured spine include:
Diagnosis and Tests
To diagnose a compression fracture, your provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. During the exam, your provider:
Management and Treatment
Compression fracture treatment focuses on relieving pain, stabilizing the bones in the spine and preventing another fracture. Depending on the severity of the fracture and your overall health, treatment may include:
Prevention
You may not always be able to prevent compression fractures. To reduce your risk of a compression fracture from osteoporosis, you should:
Living With
If you have sudden back pain that doesn’t get better after a day or two, see your provider. It’s important to get an evaluation for back pain so your provider can determine the cause and plan treatment. Call your provider right away if you’re over 65 or you have osteoporosis or a history of cancer.
What is wedge fracture?
Introduction. A wedge fracture is a vertebral compression fracture occurring anteriorly or laterally. Viewed, the affected vertebra resembles a wedge. These fractures are more commonly found in the thoracic spine, which is rather rigid displaying only a few degrees of flexion and extension. Although the thoracic spine does maintain a wide range ...
What type of x-rays are needed for a spinal fracture?
Radiographs may include lateral and AP (anterior/posterior, front/back (AP) x-rays of the affected spinal segment. The physician may request a CT Scan, with (myelography) or without a contrast medium to help identify the fracture type, its status (stable versus unstable), and if fragments have entered the spinal canal.
Is a wedge fracture serious?
In general wedge fractures are stable without neurologic involvement. Wedge fractures are considered serious when the fracture affects adjacent vertebrae, anterior wedging is 50%, severe hyperkyphosis (bent forward) is present, or bone fragment (s) are suspect in the spinal canal. In the latter, symptoms and sign of myelopathy (spinal cord dysfunction) may be present.
What is a Wedge Fracture?
These traumatic injuries have the potential to damage the spinal cord which can lead to a loss of motor and sensory function in certain areas of the body. A wedge fracture results from a crush fracture in the front of the vertebrae, giving it a wedge shape on imaging.
What happens if you have a fractured spine?
When the spine has been fractured, there is a risk of osteoporosis, or low bone density, later in life . In addition, the nerves that run down the spine are also at risk. Damage to these nerves could lead to chronic pain down the road.
Can you recover from a wedge fracture?
The prognosis will depend on the severity of the wedge fracture; however, most people recover without any incidents. If nerves have been damaged, the prognosis could be more guarded in nature.
Can you have spine surgery for a fractured spine?
If the patient has neurological symptoms, failed initial treatment, or has a severe angle of fracture in their back, surgery could be needed to put the spine back in place.
What is the Difference Between a Wedge Compression Fracture, Crush Fracture, and Burst Fracture?
For example, the term wedge fracture means that the vertebrae were fractured at the front of the bone in the front of the spine. This leaves the back unchanged, which results in a wedged shaped vertebrae. A crush fracture is when the entire bone breaks, rather than just the front of the vertebrae. A burst fracture is when there is height loss in both the front and the back of the vertebra. Knowing which type of fracture you have is important because of the long-term effects of the different breakages. For example, a burst fracture has many more long-term implications that may include progressive deformity or neurological compromise.
What Causes Compression Fractures?
The major cause of a compression fracture is osteoporosis. You may be wondering, what is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis occurs when there is an imbalance between the new bone formation in your body and the old bone resorption. Meaning that your body may be failing at forming new bones or maybe the old bone is being reabsorbed. If calcium intake is not sufficient the bodies bone production and bone tissue may suffer. This results in weak and fragile bones that may break easier. In other words, osteoporosis weakens the bones making them highly susceptible to compression fractures.
What is the Treatment for Spine Compression Fracture?
Thankfully, treatment for compression fractures is fairly conservative and treatable. The majority of fractures can heal with a combined effort that includes reducing your activity, medications to stabilize density of your bones, and a good back brace to minimize your movement during your journey to health.
What is the procedure to fix a fractured spine?
However, some people may have to turn to surgery if conservative methods aren’t doing the trick. The most common surgical options are lumbar fusions and vertebroplasty. A lumbar infusion joins the bones of the spine together so there is no longer any movement between them. In a vertebroplasty, the surgeon injects bone cement into the fractured bone to provide stability. If you would like more information on these procedures, consult with your doctor.
What is a hunchback deformity?
Noticeable hunchback deformity called kyphosis . This is most common if you have a wedge fracture on your vertebrae. Loss of muscle and aerobic conditioning due to lack of activity and exercise. Pain is noticed most often when performing daily tasks that slightly strain back muscles.
Where does a compression fracture occur?
A compression fracture of the back happens when your vertebrae, or bones of the spine, break. Compression fractures can occur anywhere in the spine, but most commonly in the lower thoracic spine and upper lumbar spine. If you’re wondering if the pain you are experiencing is a compression fracture, reference the graphic below.
Why is it important to know what type of fracture you have?
Knowing which type of fracture you have is important because of the long-term effects of the different breakages. For example, a burst fracture has many more long-term implications that may include progressive deformity or neurological compromise.
What is wedge fracture?
A wedge fracture is the most common type of compression fracture. It usually occurs in the front of the cylinder-shaped vertebra, causing the front of the vertebra to collapse but leaving the back of the bone intact, resulting in a wedge shape. A wedge compression fracture is usually a mechanically stable fracture, but can lead to spinal deformity, ...
Where do compression fractures occur?
Finally, compression fractures are often described by where they occur in the spine. They occur most often in the mid to lower portion of the spine —in the thoracic spine or in the upper lumbar portion.
What causes a spinal compression fracture?
The most common cause of a spinal compression fracture is osteoporosis. In vertebrae weakened by osteoporosis, a slight increase in stress, or even just the normal amount of pressure placed on them, can cause them to break. Compression fractures occur most often in the lower portion of the thoracic ...
What are the different types of fractures?
Any of the above fractures can also be classified as stable or unstable: 1 A stable fracture is one that is unlikely to undergo further changes, creating further damage. 2 An unstable fracture is one that is likely to change further, possibly damaging nerves and other tissue in the process or creating an unacceptable spinal deformity.
What is unstable fracture?
An unstable fracture is one that is likely to change further, possibly damaging nerves and other tissue in the process or creating an unacceptable spinal deformity.
What is the term for a stooped forward posture?
A single severe compression fracture or numerous smaller ones together can lead to a stooped forward posture called kyphosis, also known as a “dowager’s hump.”
Where does a wedge fracture occur?
A Wedge Fracture is a variant of a vertebral compression fracture which occurs either anteriorly or laterally and can be seen as having the shape of a wedge on radiographs. Wedge Fracture most commonly occurs in the thoracic spine. Even though the thoracic spine is quite rigid and have significant ability to rotate but are vulnerable ...
How Long Does It Take For A Wedge Fracture To Heal?
The preferred mode of treatment for Wedge Fractures is braces which need to be worn for around 10-12 weeks for immobilization and allowing the bones to heal. Post treatment with braces, the patient will have to spend some time in physical therapy to strengthen the spine and trunk. The flexibility of the spine is also significantly improved by physical therapy.
How long does it take to recover from a wedge fracture?
This normally takes around six months after the diagnosis of a Wedge Fracture.
Can a bone fragment slip into the spinal canal?
Sometimes, a bone fragment may slip into the spinal canal as a result of a Wedge Fracture. In instances where bone fragments tend to slip into the spinal canal, the affected individual will experience symptoms similar to myelopathy which can be quite serious and requires immediate medical attention. While Wedge Fracture may not be that common, it ...
Can a wedge fracture cause neurological symptoms?
Normally, Wedge Fractures do not cause any neurological symptoms which tend to result due to nerve impingement in other forms of vertebral compression fractures.
