![]() One other problem is that if you stiffen several segments in fusion in an osteoporotic spine, there will be additional stresses delivered to the first open motion segment, and this vertebra often fractures later. Spinal implant fixation is very difficult in the osteoporotic spine, but these spines can heal into a solid fusion. Surgical reconstruction is also difficult, either from the front or back approach. People with osteoporosis may also receive calcitonin salmon, a medication given as a nasal spray. Severe compression fractures from forceful impact on the spine, as can happen in a car accident, can cause fragments of the vertebral body to push into the. If pain persists, our specialists may prescribe a stronger pain reliever. Bracing is not usually done except in lumbar fractures, as braces are generally uncomfortable for those patients with thoracic fractures and not very effective. Depending on your level of pain, doctors may recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, or pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen. Treatment of the lumbar compression fracture typically involves rest and ambulation as soon as reasonably comfortable. Treatment for the compression (vertebral) fracture may include pain medicine, back brace, and physical therapy for supporting and strengthening the back. Typically, the round back appearance or hump back is seen in women over 70, but it does also occur in men. Sometimes if the fracture and deformity occur very slowly, there may be almost no pain and the fracture may be picked up by routine exam or X-ray. These are acute fractures and are painful. With this collapse, there is added forward shift and pressure on the structures. The pain is most commonly felt in the middle or lower spine. Sometimes massive collapse will occur, and the vertebra becomes almost pancake shaped. Compression fractures can occur suddenly. Ordinary stresses may cause a slight buckling of the anterior portion of the vertebral body, and the body may end up wedge shaped. In these cases the anterior structures of the spine, the vertebral body, lose enough bone mass to become weaker. The L1 compression fracture in this elderly patient is presumably osteoporotic related, given the history of a low energy mechanism. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Vertebral compression fractures are common and serious. They can be very painful sometimes even necessitating bed rest. Although management generally consists of analgesics, bracing, physical therapy, and treatment of the underlying cause of the frac- ture, two new minimally invasive surgical pro- cedures may provide immediate pain relief and improve fracture-related spinal deformity. Lumbar compression fractures almost never involve neurologic injury and are generally self limited. The problem is that if you have osteoporosis and low bone density, the Surgeon may judge you to be too high risk for this procedure which depends on the bones being strong enough to withstand the hardware placement.With aging populations and osteoporosis prevalent in spite of medical therapy, compression fractures, especially in the thoracic and lumbar spine, occur. The procedure does restrict some movement of the back, but it is a worthwhile option for someone who is suffering from chronic debilitating pain. Pain associated with vertebral compression fractures can be disabling causing progressive deformities and resulting in significant chronic pain. Spinal fusion surgery involves using metal bolts to attach bone graft material between two vertebrae until the two bones naturally fuse together over time. Because this procedure is more invasive, it is typically a last resort for relieving back pain. This procedure involves fusing two vertebrae together to prevent them from moving, as the movement is what causes pain. The risk is low, especially when compared to the high success rate and relief the patient feels. X-Ray is used to ensure correct placement of needles and cement. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Next another needle is placed into this cave and cement injected to fill the fractured bone and stop it from causing pain. This is best achieved by medications, back braces, gentle ambulation and physical therapy. Through this tunnel a small probe with an inflatable balloon on the tip is placed and the balloon inflated. Early treatment is important to the prognosis. In this procedure, a needle is placed into the fractured bone to create a tunnel. Lumbar Spine Injuries to the lumbar spine are severe but not life-threatening. There are some surgical procedures that can be done to alleviate the pain associated with vertebral fracture.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |