Doctor Discussion Guide
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Start NowWhether they happen due to injury or trauma, or as part of the natural aging process, spinal fractures can be treated.
Spinal fractures occur when the bones in your spine, called vertebrae, break and collapse. They can happen due to trauma or injury, such as experiencing a bad fall or car accident. Or, spinal fractures may be caused by simple movements like coughing or sneezing if your vertebrae have become weak and brittle from osteoporosis or cancer. Every year more than a million people suffer from this kind of spinal fracture; vertebral compression fractures are the most common type.1
Symptoms of a VCF or spinal fracture can include sudden onset back pain lasting longer than a few days, especially in people who have or at risk of having osteoporosis or low bone mass. Tell your doctor of you have these symptoms so he or she can ask you questions, examine your back, and recommend an x-ray or other imaging tests if needed. Back pain can be caused by numerous things. A spinal fracture is a specific condition with specific treatment options.
Spinal fractures are twice as common as hip fractures1 and three times more common than breast cancer.2 Spinal fractures are most common in postmenopausal women over 55.3 In fact, one in two women over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related spinal fracture.4
If a spinal fracture is left untreated, the vertebra may heal in the "broken" or "caved in" position. This can lead to increased forward curvature, or kyphosis, the medical term for the visible postural change that people refer to as a "dowager's hump" or "hunchback."
Just one spinal fracture that remains deformed shortens the spine and pushes it forward, adversely affecting spinal alignment. Each additional spinal fracture increases the spinal deformity5-6 and the spinal curvature can become more pronounced. When you change your posture to compensate for kyphotic deformity, it can affect how you walk and can strain your back and joints. A misaligned spine can also compress your internal organs and lead to health problems seemingly unrelated to your spine, such as:
There are two main surgical treatments designed to repair vertebral compression fractures:
Hear Dr. Gordon talk about the health consequences of spinal fractures.
References
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