

In people with healthy spines, compression fractures usually occur after severe trauma such as a fall or car accident. When bones are very weak and brittle, they can be fractured during everyday activities like lifting lightweight objects, walking up steps, or even sneezing.

Osteoporosis makes patients more vulnerable to spinal fractures. If left untreated, individuals with VCF may notice a loss in height. Movement often increases pain, which is sometimes relieved by rest. In rare cases, pain caused by a compression fracture may move into the abdomen or into the legs. Vertebral compression fractures cause back pain in the area of the affected vertebra. The other type of VCF is the axial burst fracture, in which the vertebra collapses in both the front and back. The most common type of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a wedge fracture, in which the front of the vertebra breaks, but the back does not, creating a wedge shape. Compression or flexion fractures most often occur in the thoracic and lumbar spine. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, vertebral compression fractures occur in around 700,000 patients each year. Compression FracturesĪ compression fracture occurs when part of a vertebra collapses.

There are three types of spinal fractures: compression, distraction, and rotation. Even if symptoms are not severe, you should consult an orthopedic doctor to prevent further damage to the spine or nerves. Spinal fractures are serious injuries that need to be examined and monitored by a doctor.
