Spinal (vertebrae) fracture

A spinal fracture is a term used to describe a break in any of your vertebrae, the 33 bones that form your spinal column. These fractures occur due to various reasons, including trauma from falls, sports injuries or car accidents.

Most spinal fractures are minor injuries that may not have any symptoms and don’t require surgery. If your fractured spine is severe, it will require surgery. Wearing a back brace and physical therapy are often recommended to help you recover mobility and strength after a spinal fracture.

What is a spinal fracture?

If you have a spinal fracture, your provider will classify it based on the location where the vertebrae are broken. They’ll also and categorize it as stable or unstable.

Unstable fractures are serious and can cause nerve damage or paralysis. Stable fractures are less serious. If the spine can handle body weight, it is considered stable.

Spinal fractures occur in one of the three primary sections of the spine:

• Cervical spine fracture (neck)
• Thoracic spine fracture (upper back from your neck to the bottom of your ribs)
• Lumbar spine fracture (lower back)

Types of spinal fractures

There are three types of spinal fractures with their own distinct characteristics. The most common include:

• Burst fractures: This type of fracture happens when the spinal column is compressed due to a strong force, causing it to break into several pieces.
• Chance fractures: Also known as flexion or distraction fractures, chance fractures are the opposite of a burst fracture and occur when the vertebrae are pulled away from one another suddenly.
• Spinal compression fracture: A spinal compression fracture happens when one or more vertebrae in the spine compress or collapse due to trauma or osteoporosis.

Symptoms of a spinal fracture

You may not notice you have a spinal fracture, especially if it’s caused by osteoporosis and not due to trauma. If you’re in a car accident or suffer an injury, your symptoms are often treated along with your injury.

If you do have spinal fracture symptoms, the most noticeable will be persistent back pain that often lasts for several days. If your pain is combined with numbness, tingling or the inability to move your arms or legs, it’s more serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Common symptoms you may experience include:

• Swelling or tenderness around the area of the fracture
• Changes to your posture
• Back pain
• Height loss
• Loss of control of your bladder or bowels
• Tingling or numbness

Diagnosing spinal compression fractures

If you have a burst or chance spinal fracture due to trauma or an injury, your spinal fracture will be diagnosed when you are treated for the injury in the emergency department.

For minor spinal fractures, your doctor will perform a physical exam, review your medical history and may use digital imaging testing.

During the physical exam, your provider will check your spine for tenderness and any noticeable changes to your posture or the shape of the spine.

X-rays are used to confirm a spinal fracture. MRI and CT scans are often ordered to provide detailed images of the spinal cord or if you need surgery.

Spinal compression fracture treatment

The type of treatment you’ll receive depends on various factors such as your type of fracture, where the fracture is located and the cause.

Most spinal fractures are treated with back braces, physical therapy and nonsurgical options, such as rest and over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

If your spinal fracture is severe, or your pain doesn’t improve, you may need surgery and will be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

Surgical options may include:

• Vertebroplasty: Your surgeon injects a medical-grade substance called bone cement, which “glues” the spine in its proper position to reduce pain and bone deformity.
• Kyphoplasty: A balloon is inserted into the affected area to decompress your spine and allow you to regain lost height. Your surgeon will then inject bone cement to stabilize your vertebrae.

How long does a spinal fracture take to heal?

The healing time for a spinal fracture varies depending on the severity of the fracture, your overall health and the specific treatment provided.

Minor spinal fractures may heal within a few weeks to a couple of months with conservative treatments such as rest, pain management and physical therapy.

However, more severe fractures, especially those involving displacement of bones or spinal cord compression, may require longer healing times and may even require surgical intervention to stabilize the spine. In such cases, healing can take several months, and rehabilitation may be necessary to regain strength and mobility.