Why spinal bones break
With age, especially in women after menopause and in patients who have taken steroid medicines for a long time, bones become weak (osteoporosis). Then even a minor fall, lifting something heavy or a hard sneeze can make a spinal bone collapse. This is called a compression fracture.
Symptoms
- Sudden severe pain in the back or lower back
- Great difficulty getting up from sitting, turning in bed or walking
- The back gradually bending forward, or a loss of height
Treatment without surgery: vertebroplasty
In vertebroplasty, a needle is guided into the broken bone under fluoroscopy and a special type of bone cement is injected. The cement hardens quickly and stabilises the broken bone, so for many patients the pain eases quickly.
- It is done under local anaesthesia
- There is no large cut or stitches in the skin
- Many patients can start walking again within a short time
Who is suitable
X-rays and MRI must confirm that the bone has broken recently and that the pain is coming from there. If the back part of the bone is broken or a nerve is compressed, other treatment may be needed.
What to do next
A broken bone means a weak bone, so alongside treatment it is essential to have a bone density test and start osteoporosis treatment, so that no more bones break.
This article is for general health information. Always consult a doctor for your own diagnosis and treatment.
