COMPRESSION FRACTURE
Vertebrae just like other bones, are very strong. However like other bones in our body they are also prone to fractures and trauma. The main reasons for the fracture in vertebrae or spine is trauma, injury or a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis leads to thinning of the bone which becomes prone to fracture due to even a casual fall or sometimes just bending.
When the fracture or collase happens in the vertebrae of the spine then it is called vertebral compression fracture. The most common site for such fractures is lower end of thoracic spine and starting of the lower back or lumbar spine. At Dr Sudeep Jain's Spine clinic it is observed that the cases with compression or collapse fracture of spine or vertebrae are more common in females than males.
DIAGNOSIS & SYMPTOMS
At spine specialist Dr Sudeep Jain's spine clinic diagnosis of any disease starts with the physical examination and documentation of medical history of the patient. In cases of compression or collapse fracture in spine the process is no different. After the physical examination Dr Jain would advise for X-ray or CT Scan or may be MRI of the spine along with Bone Mineral Density (BMD) for the spine. X-ray, MRI or CT Scan is to rule out fracture in the spine, BMD is done to know the status of osteoporosis.
In case the fracture is due to injury then you will feel severe sudden pain in back, legs or arms. It may or may not be accompanied by neurological weakness of the limbs. In gradual collapse the pain would be less but will increase in intensity with the time.
TREATMENT
Dr Sudeep Jain Spine Specialist in New Delhi opts for the conservative managment of the compression or collapse fracture of spine. This is done through anti-inflamatory medications, vitamin D and calcium supplements and using the brace for support in the concerned region. This is a slow treatment but is effective without surgery in many cases. Dr Jain believes that the best treatment for a patient is to cure the disease without surgery as far as possible, even though he is a spine surgeon. However, in some cases where the symptoms are extreme or there is shortening of height or hump in the back then the best option for the patient is to have stablizing surgery. It can either be fixation and fusion spine surgery or a kyphoplasty.
