Is back pain normal? Learn about a spinal fracture

Have you suddenly had severe back pain? Or is it after an accident or a fall? Have you ever noticed that our parents sometimes bend forward and lose height as they get older? There may be a reason behind this that we don't even think about. That is a fracture in the spine. We usually call this a "spinal fracture."

Simply put, what is a spinal fracture?

Our spine is made up of 33 small bones that are stacked on top of each other. Each of these bones is called a vertebra . So, when one or more of these vertebrae break or rupture, we call it a spinal fracture .

There are two main reasons for this. One is osteoporosis , a bone thinning disease. The other is trauma to the spine, such as accidents, falls, or sports injuries.

Most of the time, these types of fractures can be treated without surgery. You may need to wear a special brace for a few months. However, for serious fractures, surgery is definitely necessary.

Are there any types of these fractures?

Yes, doctors divide these fractures into several types, depending on where in the spine the fracture occurs and how it is broken.

Classification by spine position

• Cervical spine fracture: This happens in the vertebrae in your neck.
• Thoracic spine fracture: A fracture of the vertebrae in the upper spine, which extends from the base of the neck to the end of the ribs.
• Lumbar spine fracture: A fracture of the vertebrae in your lower back.

Classification according to how the bone was broken

There are several main types depending on how the bone is broken. If you understand these things separately, you can get a better understanding of this.

Stable or Unstable?

This is also a very important classification.

• Stable Fracture: In this case, even though the vertebra is broken, it does not move from its original position. This means that the alignment of the spine does not change. This is less likely to require surgery.
• Unstable Fracture: This is the most serious condition. The vertebra has broken and is out of place. This increases the risk of damage to the spinal cord, which runs through the spine. This almost certainly requires surgery.

Who is more at risk?

Actually, anyone can have something like this happen due to a fall or an accident. But for some people, the risk is a little higher.

• For people over 50 years old, especially women.
• People with osteoporosis (bone thinning disease) are at the highest risk.
• Cancer patients (especially those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy).
• For those taking medications such as corticosteroids for a long time.
• For those with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).
• For those with bone infection (Osteomyelitis).
• For those with conditions such as kidney disease, anorexia nervosa, and vitamin D deficiency.
• People who smoke and drink heavily are also at higher risk.

What are the symptoms of a spinal fracture?

Surprisingly, some people can have this condition without any symptoms. Compression fractures, especially those that develop slowly due to osteoporosis, may not cause any pain. Some people only find out they have a broken vertebra when they have an X-ray for another condition.

However, if symptoms do appear, they may look like this.

How does the doctor diagnose this? (Diagnosis)

When you go to see your doctor, he will first examine you. He will look carefully at your back for any painful areas, swelling, and changes in your posture. It is very important to tell him exactly where you feel the pain and how long you have had it.

After that, several tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis, such as:

• X-ray: This can be used to see if there is a fracture and how far the vertebrae have slipped out of place.
• MRI scan: This can clearly see if there is any damage to the soft tissues around the spine, especially the spinal cord.
• CT scan: This helps to get a very clear, detailed picture of the damage to the bones if surgery is needed.
• Bone density test (DEXA scan): This test is done to determine if you have osteoporosis and how severe it is.

How is it treated?

As I mentioned before, not all spinal fractures require surgery. Treatment depends on factors such as the type of fracture, where it is located, and the cause.

Non-surgical treatment

• Bracing: Your doctor may recommend wearing a specially designed back brace to keep your spine in one place and help the broken bone heal properly. This usually needs to be worn for several months.
• Physical Therapy: It is very important to exercise to strengthen the muscles around the spine. This will reduce pain and reduce the risk of further fractures in the future.
• Treating Osteoporosis: If you have this condition, you will be given medications, supplements like calcium, and vitamin D to strengthen your bones.

Surgical treatment

If the fracture is at risk of damaging your spinal cord, or if your pain doesn't improve after several months of treatment, you may need surgery. The two most common types of surgery are:

• Vertebroplasty: In this procedure, the surgeon injects a special cement into the fractured vertebra. This helps to strengthen the bone.
• Kyphoplasty: This is similar to Vertebroplasty. However, before the cement is injected, a very small balloon is inserted into the vertebra and inflated to restore the damaged bone to its original height. Then the cement is injected.

Both of these surgeries are usually outpatient procedures, but you should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for about 6 weeks after surgery.