Spinal Fracture

The spinal column protects the spinal cord and nerve roots, however, a fall, car accident, or sports injury, can cause a break in the vertebral bodies of the spine, potentially releasing fragments of bone that can damage the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. Some fractures are caused by underlying conditions like osteoporosis, bone disease, and cancer. Depending on the type of fracture and its severity, patients may experience back or neck pain, difficulty walking, loss of height, spinal curvature, numbness, tingling, muscle spasm, weakness, bowel/bladder changes, and/or paralysis. 

For the most part, spinal fractures can be treated conservatively without the need for surgery, such as with physical therapy, medication, and immobilization bracing to stabilize the injured segments until the body is able to heal the fracture. If these methods fail to correct the issue, a spinal fusion surgery may be necessary to stabilize the affected segment of the spine with a bone graft, screws and rods. By fixing the affected vertebrae into proper position, the pinched nerves of the affected area receive relief and with it, symptoms are reduced. 
 

Other surgical procedures, like vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty can also be utilized to treat spinal fractures. In vertebroplasty, an acrylic bone cement is injected through a hollow needle placed into the fractured bone to mend it. In kyphoplasty, a balloon is first inserted and inflated to re-expand the bone before filling the space with the cement. As minimally invasive surgeries, these two inpatient procedures can be performed with shorter stays in the hospital and faster recovery times.