What Is a Vertebral Fracture?
Learn about the symptoms and treatment options for vertebrae fractures.
When one or more bones in the spine break, it’s known as a vertebral fracture or spinal fracture. There are several types of vertebral fractures:
- Compression fractures — Compression fractures are the most common and happen when a vertebra collapses, usually from a trauma, like a fall, or heavy lifting.
- Burst fractures — These can happen after a traumatic injury, such as a fall from a great height or a car accident. Splinters of bone penetrate the soft tissues around the spine.
- Fracture-dislocation — Fracture-dislocations occur when a vertebra breaks and becomes dislocated, potentially damaging the spinal cord.
When one or more bones in the spine break, it’s known as a vertebral fracture or spinal fracture. There are several types of vertebral fractures:
- Compression fractures — Compression fractures are the most common and happen when a vertebra collapses, usually from a trauma, like a fall, or heavy lifting.
- Burst fractures — These can happen after a traumatic injury, such as a fall from a great height or a car accident. Splinters of bone penetrate the soft tissues around the spine.
- Fracture-dislocation — Fracture-dislocations occur when a vertebra breaks and becomes dislocated, potentially damaging the spinal cord.
What You May Be Feeling Having a Bulging Disc?
Back Pain
Spasms
Tenderness
Weakness
If you experience back pain that comes on suddenly, especially in the upper or mid-back, pain that gets worse when standing or walking, a decrease in pain when lying flat on your back, lose flexibility in the spine, or have a deformity like a hump in your back, your doctor may suspect a vertebral fracture.
Potential Thinning Disc Treatment Options
Kyphoplasty
The surgeon is guided by x-ray to place a balloon catheter into the vertebrae. The balloon inflates to restore the collapse in a vertebra. The vertebrae is then stabilized with injected cement.
