What Is a Vertebral Compression Fracture?
The vertebrae are the bones that form the spinal column. When one of these bones becomes weakened and partially collapses, it is called a vertebral compression fracture.
These fractures are frequently associated with weakened bones, including osteoporosis, but can also occur following trauma or injury.
A compression fracture can cause sudden pain and make standing, walking, bending, or changing positions difficult.
What Causes Compression Fractures?
Potential causes include:
- Osteoporosis
- Falls
- Accidents
- Trauma
- Weakened bones
- Certain medical conditions
In people with significantly weakened bones, even relatively minor movements may sometimes contribute to a fracture.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms can include:
- Sudden back pain
- Pain while standing
- Pain while walking
- Difficulty changing positions
- Reduced mobility
- Height loss
- Changes in posture
Some fractures may have mild symptoms, making them difficult to distinguish from ordinary aches and pains.
What Is Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used for certain vertebral compression fractures.
During the procedure, a small pathway is created into the affected vertebra. A balloon may be inserted and inflated to create a cavity inside the vertebral body.
Bone cement is then placed into the cavity to stabilize the vertebra.
What Is Vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty also uses bone cement to stabilize a fractured vertebra.
The primary difference is that vertebroplasty generally involves injecting cement directly into the vertebral body without the balloon step used in kyphoplasty.
Which Procedure Is Better?
There isn’t one procedure that is automatically better for every patient.
The appropriate approach depends on:
- Fracture characteristics
- Bone quality
- Severity of symptoms
- Imaging findings
- Duration of symptoms
- Overall health
- Previous treatments
A physician can determine which option, if any, is appropriate.
Why Is Proper Evaluation Important?
A new episode of significant back pain should not automatically be attributed to muscle strain.
Especially in individuals with osteoporosis or weakened bones, an evaluation may be important when pain develops after a fall, injury, or even relatively minor activity.
Protecting Bone Health
Treating a compression fracture addresses the fracture itself, but it is also important to consider the underlying reason the bone became weakened.
Patients with osteoporosis may need evaluation and treatment designed to reduce their future fracture risk.
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