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Home » Consumer Information » Back Injuries

Spinal Fractures

Whether it is just a mild muscle strain or a paralyzing traumatic injury, there is a vast array of spinal cord injuries that one can experience. Caught right in the middle, in terms of severity, are spinal fractures and dislocations. Spinal fractures and dislocations can result in the squeezing, compression, and tearing of the spinal cord. The kind of care necessary for treatment of a fracture is based on the class of fracture and its level of instability. Fractures can happen anywhere along the spine; 64 percent of those occur in the lower back region while just five to ten percent of them take place around the neck.

Spinal fractures can be classified in many ways, but they generally fall into three categories:

  • Fractures - occur when a bone is under so much pressure that it cannot withstand it. A vertebral body compression fracture is the most common kind of spinal fracture. It happens when a vertical force comes down on the spinal column, causing vertebrae to shatter and crumble. If the point of impact is struck with enough force, bone chips may be thrust into the spinal canal in what is called a burst fracture.
    People who suffer from osteoporosis, tumors, and certain grades of cancer that make bone turn brittle are more likely to experience a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). This type of fracture can be identified by the V-shaped collapse of the vertebra. Numerous vertebral compression fractures can lead to kyphosis, a condition causing exaggerated curvature of the spine that contributes to the appearance of a hunch.
  • Dislocations - happen when ligaments and/or discs bonding two vertebrae together are yanked or torn. This may also force the bones out of alignment. For instance, dislocation takes place when a car comes to such an abrupt halt that the momentum of a passenger's upper body against the seat belt strapped at the waist pulls the vertebra apart and stretches the ligaments. A dislocated vertebra can result in instability and put strain on the spinal cord. A problem of this magnitude usually requires surgery to enhance stability or a brace.
  • Fracture-dislocations - a combination of the previous two examples in which bone is broken and ligaments are ruptured. A fracture of this sort tends to be unstable, crippling, and almost always requires an operation to repair.

Symptoms

Spinal fracture symptoms always differ depending on the seriousness of the injury and its placement These may include:

  • Back/neck discomfort
  • Lack of feeling
  • Prickly sensation
  • Muscle contractions
  • Weakness
  • Diminished control of bowel/bladder movements
  • Paralysis

Paralysis is the total loss of mobility in the arms and/or legs, and it may be a sign of a spinal cord injury. Only a portion of fractures result in spinal cord injury, and the spinal cord is almost never severed entirely.

Treatment

Caring for a fracture starts with pain control and stabilization to avoid a more severe injury. Additional bodily damage may present further problems and also require treatment. Depending on the nature of the fracture and whether it needs added support, a brace and/or surgery may be inevitable.

  • Braces and orthotics - maintain alignment of the vertebrae, keep the spine stabilized while it heals, and manage pain by limiting mobility. A stable fracture may only need a brace to keep it sturdy. Types of braces include:
    • Rigid collars for cervical fractures.
    • Cervical-thoracic brace for fractures of the upper back.
    • Thoracolumbar-sacral orthosis for fractures of the lower back.

In as little as eight weeks or as much as 12 weeks, the brace is normally removed. Unstable neck fractures or dislocations may call for spinal realignment, in which case traction is utilized to return the spine to its proper position. Use of a halo ring or vest brace could also be justified.

  • Instrumentation and fusion - operations intended to take care of unstable fractures. When two vertebrae are united by a bone graft fastened by plates, rods, hooks, screws, or cages, it is accomplished through a process called fusion. The objective of a bone graft is to fuse the vertebrae on either side of it to solidify as one piece of bone. A procedure like this may takes months to reach completion.
  • Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty - two invasive procedures that do not require any incision used to treat compression fractures often brought about by osteoporosis and tumors. Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which bone cement is shot by way of inoculation into a fractured vertebra. During kyphoplasty, a balloon is placed within a collapsed vertebra and inflated to return it to its original shape. Bone cement is then injected into the space occupied by the balloon.