Spinal fractures are common around the world and can have a major impact on your quality of life. If not treated soon enough, they can even make carrying out daily tasks impossible.

Back pain, loss of appetite and sleep or respiratory problems are just a few examples.
If you have been diagnosed with a spinal fracture, a minimally invasive treatment is a therapeutic option which may be considered.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

A spinal fracture occurs when a vertebral body collapses.

Spinal fractures tend to be very painful and, if left untreated, can adversely affect your general health and well-being, hence the importance of an early diagnosis to ensure more effective management.

A spinal fracture can occur after an accident. Traumas can be divided into two types:

• Low-energy trauma: some diseases, such as osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) or cancer (malignant tumours, metastases), combined with a low-energy trauma, such as lifting an object or turning over in bed, can cause what are known as “fragility fractures” of the vertebrae.

• High-energy trauma: road traffic accident, fall, sports and occupational accidents.

Spinal fractures are very common.

• Spinal fractures are the most common osteoporotic fractures (46%), well ahead of fractures of the hip (16%) and wrist (16%) [2].

• It is estimated that, after the age of 50, almost 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer from an osteoporotic spinal fracture [4].

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

In addition to being extremely painful, a spinal fracture can affect your balance and therefore increase the risk of new spinal fractures.

Each additional spinal fracture exacerbates the deformity of the spinal column [6,7] (forward curvature of the spine), with an increased risk of the complications or reduced functional capacities indicated below:

• Reduced mobility, loss of balance and increased risk of falls [8,9]

• Reduction in lung capacity [10,11]

• Chronic back pain and fatigue [12,13]

• Reduced appetite and sleeping problems [10,14]

• Depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

Spinal fractures are often confused with other types of back pain.

Therefore, report any new or unusual back pain to your doctor promptly. Early diagnosis can lead to more treatment options.

A physical exam, together with an X-Ray, can help determine whether you have a spinal fracture.

Spinal fractures may be asymptomatic, but certain signs may alert your doctor:

• Sudden severe or chronic back pain

• Curve in the shape of your spine

• Loss of height

After a physical exam, imaging tests such as x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might be ordered to confirm the diagnosis of a spinal fracture.