LUMBAR SPINE COMPRESSION FRACTURE

Lumbar Spine compression fracture

Spine compression fracture

Introduction

The spinal column consists of separate bones - the vertebrae. Vertebra, most often, these fractures occur in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine. Low back pain is sometime defined as discomfort and pain, located below the lower margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, with or sometime without leg pain.

Acute low back pain is usually distinct as the length of an episode of low back pain persisting for less than six weeks; sub-acute low back pain as low back pain persisting between 6 and twelve weeks; chronic low back pain as low back pain persisting for twelve weeks or more.

Patient history

Patient is 83 year old female who suffers from spinal injury that involved falling backward hard onto a chair. She was diagnosed with a lumbar spine compression fracture that was confirmed by radio graphically.

Anatomy

Compression fracture occurs under the influence of high pressure on the vertebral body. Typically, the mechanism of injury is a combination of flexion movement of the spine forward, combined with axial load. This leads to a significant pressure on the front structure of the spine - to the vertebral bodies and discs. If one have a compression fracture of vertebral body in front of the flattened, takes the form of a wedge. It can significantly reduce the height of the anterior vertebral body; posterior body part can be introduced into the vertebral canal and lead to compression of the spinal cord. Fortunately, such large fractures are rare (Brant, 2003).

Diagnosis

As a doctor I will recommend her the following test as she is a old age women and cannot afford surgery at this stage so for this purpose looking at the patients history and background I would recommend the following treatment.

X-ray of the spine in two views (and lateral) will point to the damaged vertebra.

After the X-ray ones doctor may order computed tomography (CT) in order that a more detailed study of the structure of the damaged vertebra. The same parallel can be drawn from CT myelography for the assessment of the spinal cord at the level of the fracture.

MRI is usually performed for suspected damage to the nervous structures of the spine.

Densitometry, All women over age 50 diagnosed with compression fractures of the spine to perform densitometry for osteoporosis.

Neurological examination includes checking the function of the spinal cord, nerve roots and peripheral nerves.

Causes and Interventions

Compression fractures of the spine caused by excessive pressure on the vertebral body. At the turn, of the vertebral body gets its wedge shape with the apex anteriorly. Internal tissue of the vertebral body collapses or shrinks. It Can occur when the slope of the spine anteriorly, plus high axial load. Such an arrangement is most common when jumping from a height of feet.

There are many reasons for compression fractures. If the bone is too weak to hold normal axial loads, one may need a slight pressure for that would destroy it. Most of the healthy bones can withstand the pressure, and spine in a position ...