By making a diagnosis of a “crack in the spine,” the doctor, as it were, reduces the severity of the injury. This is dangerous because the patient begins to think that his condition will not lead to complications. Spinal injuries, including a crack in the spine, are far from a trifle, and complications can be quite complex and unpredictable. In this case, a crack is not a microtrauma, but a fracture of the vertebra that occurs due to compression compression. An incomplete fracture on an x-ray looks like a thin wavy line, which is why it is called a crack.
Spinal structure
The spine has a cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine ; in these sections there are 24 movable vertebrae and 10 immobile. The vertebrae overlap each other and form a channel, inside which the spinal cord is located. Such protection is provided due to the fact that the spinal cord is a very significant organ of the nervous system.
Thus, the spine in the human body performs not only the musculoskeletal function, but also the protective-connective:
- protects the spinal cord from damage;
- connects the spinal cord to the brain;
- provides a vegetative connection between all human organs.
Is it scary - a crack in the spine? Of course, this is a very dangerous injury that can lead to damage to the spinal cord, and the consequences are not only unpredictable, but also irreparable.
Types of injuries hiding under an incomplete fracture of the spine
The very complex construction of the spine opens up a vast field for diversification of injuries. As a rule, injuries differ in the type of damage and in the location of the damage site.
By the nature of the damage to the spine can be:
- closed - the injury did not damage the soft tissues that cover the spinal column;
- open - there is a violation of the skin and tissue.
As for the localization of the injury, it can be as follows:
- the vertebral body is damaged;
- spinal processes are damaged;
- the arc is damaged.
Quite often, a crack in the spine leads to damage to the spinal cord, then doctors talk about the following degrees of damage:
- First degree. All functional disorders are reversible, in other words, a concussion occurred.
- Second degree. Functional disorders are irreversible - a spinal cord injury or contusion occurred.
- Third degree. There is a compression of the spinal cord. That is, the organ is squeezed as a result of spinal deformity with a hematoma or tissue edema.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that a crack in the spine is a closed injury that can touch any of its structural parts. And despite the fact that this is a very dangerous condition, serious and irreversible spinal cord injuries in this case are diagnosed in rare cases.
Etiology of the phenomenon
If we look at the statistics, then spinal injuries account for about 10-12% of all injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. As a rule, a crack or compression fracture of the spine in children and adults occurs when falling from a height or in a car accident. As for the elderly, they have a similar phenomenon can be observed even with minor physical exertion.
Injury characteristic
Incomplete fracture of the spine most often occurs with injuries associated with compression. Damage to the vertebrae can occur if safety precautions are not followed, if heavy objects fall on a person, when they fall from a height and accidents. The specificity of an incomplete fracture is that often it does not attract the necessary attention. The functions of the body in most cases are not violated, and the person does not see the need for treatment. This is the deepest error - absolutely any spinal injury should be carefully treated and corrected, otherwise dangerous complications are possible.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of the pathology depends on the severity and location of the damage. Most often, the patient complains of the following:
- Sharp pain, which increases with bends and turns.
- If the damage touched the 3 and 4 cervical vertebrae, pain occurs when turning the head, which prompts the person to take a forced position, in which the neck muscles are as stressed as possible. If the vertebrae 1 and 2 are damaged, an instant lethal outcome of the victim is possible, as spinal cord compression occurs.
- A fissure of the spine in the lumbar provokes a girdle pain, and pain is also aggravated by palpation.
- If the fissure is localized in the thoracic spine, the pain will also have a girdling character, and signs of pathology of the lungs and heart can also occur - tachycardia, shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
With an incomplete fracture of the spine, a syndrome of the pinned heel can be observed. If the patient lies on his back on a hard surface, he cannot raise his leg without bending it at the knee.
With compression injury, there is a violation of motor activity, malfunctioning of the internal organs, a decrease in sensitivity.
First aid
Since a crack in the spine can have very serious consequences, the victim needs professional help as soon as possible, so the first thing you need is to call an ambulance.
Independent attempts to move the victim or attempts to transport him to the clinic can lead to dangerous complications. Therefore, before the arrival of the team of doctors, a person must be laid on a hard surface. If not, you must turn the patient face down on a soft surface. Under the chest, you need to put a roll of blankets or a pillow. The victim must be moved very carefully, while remembering that any incorrect movement can be harmful.
If the cervical spine is damaged, it is necessary to fix the damaged area with a splint or soft collar. It is better not to give painkillers to the victim until the doctors arrive, so as not to smear the clinical picture. Patients with a low pain threshold are allowed pain medication.
Diagnostic measures
The doctor can not determine the crack on the spine, so the diagnosis of damage is carried out by radiography. In the picture, the specialist sees a crack in the form of a thin line. If there is a need to clarify the features of the damage, the doctor may prescribe magnetic resonance imaging.
If during the study no spinal damage was found, but the patient has disturbing signs, additional diagnostics are prescribed, for example, a blood and urine test to identify the inflammatory process.
Effects
Violations of a visceral-vegetative nature, as a rule, are observed not immediately after the injury, but after some time. For example, the formation of trophic ulcers, which are provoked by a violation of blood flow in all types of spinal injuries.
From the internal organs can be observed with injuries of the cervical spine:
- headaches and dizziness;
- vomiting
- respiratory failure;
- respiratory paralysis.
For injuries of the chest:
- gastric or duodenal ulcer;
- heart and vascular diseases.
For injuries of the lumbar:
- renal failure;
- problems in the work of the colon or bladder.
How to treat a crack in the spine?
Treatment of spinal injuries should be carried out urgently. May be conservative or surgical. It depends on the severity of the injury.
In case of a mild injury in which there is no displacement or loss of the vertebra and its fragments, as well as in the absence of damage to the spinal cord, the following is prescribed:
- wearing a corset for several months;
- pain therapy.
During the rehabilitation period, it is recommended:
- special set of exercises;
- physiotherapy;
- treatment with ozokerite or paraffin baths.
If the crack provoked deformation or destruction of the spine, it is prescribed:
- Extraction of the spine to give it an anatomically correct position.
- Surgery to restore the vertebra. If this is not possible, an artificial implant is installed.
- If complications and purulent infections occur, drug therapy is performed.
With severe and severe injuries of the spinal cord, the treatment is very long and consists in the following:
- Recovery of patency of the spinal cord. I must say that this is not always possible to do.
- Elimination of visceral and autonomic disorders.
Recovery may take a long time - a year or more.
With a crack in the cervical spine, a simultaneous stretching of the spine and subsequent wearing of the Shants collar are prescribed, which ensures the stationary state of the damaged area. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of a Glisson loop, which will prevent spinal damage.
Medicines that are prescribed to the patient:
- Riboxin;
- "Methyluracil";
- ATP preparations;
- vitamins;
- Osteomed
- Chondrolone.
If conservative treatment is not possible, surgery is prescribed.
With a crack in the thoracic spine, complications develop in relation to the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, in addition to stretching the spine and taking medications, drugs are prescribed that normalize intestinal motility.
For injuries of the sacro-lumbar region, the patient takes drugs that will prevent the development of complications in the functionality of the rectum and bladder. Spinal stretching is prescribed. The lumbar region must also be immobilized. For this purpose, the patient should wear a corset for the lumbar spine.
Compression fracture of the spine in the elderly
Spinal dysfunction is observed after 50 years. At this age, the production of intervertebral fluid decreases, as a result of which the vertebrae become less mobile.
In older people, a compression fracture of the spine can be associated with the following reasons:
- osteoporosis - loss of calcium, which leads to a violation of the density of the vertebrae;
- dysfunction of the ligamentous apparatus of the vertebrae;
- injuries.
In half the cases, a compression fracture of the spine due to osteoporosis is diagnosed.
Symptoms
- pain in the spine;
- pain in the lower extremities.
Conservative treatment of spinal fissures in old age is:
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen", "Movalis", "Dexalgin";
- the exception of overloads when walking and physical work;
- wearing corsets;
- taking calcium and vitamins.
Surgery in old age, as a rule, is not performed, since recovery after surgery is difficult, and cardiovascular complications are possible.
Compression fracture in children
As for the compression fracture of the spine in children, it is accompanied by sharp pain, which can give to the upper and lower extremities. With an injury in the thoracic region, the child may experience small and short-term interruptions in breathing, and the skin may become cyanotic.
In some cases, a compression fracture of the spine in a child is not accompanied by a bright clinic, but proceeds against the background of a general weakness of the body and a background pain syndrome.
Diagnostics is carried out in two stages.
First:
- history taking;
- the doctor runs his fingers along the spine and marks the area of particular pain;
- muscle strength tests, sensitivity tests, tendon reflexes and so on.
Then assigned:
- X-ray
- CT, MRI;
- additional studies - densitometry, assessment of the spinal cord, and more.
The treatment of spinal fissures in a child is not much different from the treatment of a similar pathology in adults. It is necessary to unload the back, as well as protect the vertebrae from additional deformation and pinching of the spinal cord.
In case of complex injuries, as a result of which direct pressure is exerted on the nerve roots and spinal cord, surgical intervention is required - damaged vertebrae are restored or removed. Then, the following methods are used, which allow to stabilize the structure of the spine:
- Vertebroplasty - medical cement is injected using a biopsy needle. There is a fixation of the damaged vertebra and its stabilization.
- Kyphoplasty - the introduction of an air balloon into the intervertebral bones, it restores the normal height of the vertebrae. Then bone cement is poured, which fixes the vertebra. The entire damaged area is fixed with titanium plates.
During the entire treatment period, the child should be at rest and observe bed rest. The patient's bed should be hard, and the head should be raised 30 degrees. To take upright position, it is necessary to put on a propping corset.
In the recovery period, a physical therapy course, physiotherapy, spa treatment, swimming, balneological procedures are prescribed.
It is important to understand that the concept of “fissure in the spine” is very different from the concept of “fissure in the radius”. In the second case, this is really better than a fracture, and treatment and rehabilitation are many times faster. In some cases, with a crack in the bone, even gypsum is not necessary - a rather tight dressing. A crack in the spine is a completely different matter. It is necessary to be aware of the danger of this condition, to consult a doctor in a timely manner, and also to pass through all stages of treatment in a disciplined manner. A negligent attitude to this pathology can result in very serious and irreversible consequences.