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What are spinal fractures?
Fractures of the spine may occur due to a fall from a height, a blow on the head or shoulders, (usually with the spine flexed), automobile accidents, or sports such as horseback riding or gymnastics.
Forcible flexion is the common injury, but flexion may be accompanied by compression bending or rotation.
Types of fractures include:
Compression Fracture:
Compression fractures of the vertebrae,involve a collapse of the vertebrae. One or more vertebra may be affected. Causes of these fractures may include osteoporosis (the most common cause), tumor or trauma to the back.
Seat Belt Fractures:
These fractures occur in an automobile accident with a lap seat belt and may involve either bone or ligament injury.
Fracture Dislocation:
Fracture dislocations occur with high force injuries of (auto accidents, falls) and are often accompanied by spinal cord damage and paralysis. In addition, there is severe bony injury with an unstable spine.
Burst Fracture:
A burst fracture involves compression of the vertebrae and the presence of bony fragments in the spinal canal. In about 1/2 of the cases there is spinal cord damage with complete or partial paralysis.
How are spinal fractures treated?
The treatment depends on the number of levels involved; the area of the spine involved the presence of spinal cord damage, the amount of angulation (_kyphosis_) present and the condition of the bone i.e. osteoporosis. Casting or bracing is used without cord damage and minimal kyphosis. Surgery is necessary when there is cord damage and/or for larger degrees of kyphosis. Surgical treatment involves spinal fusion which allows maximum cord recovery and aids rehabilitation.
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